How 'Star Wars' almost ruined Natalie Portman's career

London: Natalie Portman has blamed the ' Star Wars' prequel trilogy for nearly ruining her career.

The 33-year-old actress, who starred as Luke and Leia Skywalker's ill-fated mother Queen Padme Amidala in George Lucas' movies, said that everyone thought she was a "horrible" actress, the Independent reported.

The 'Black Swan' star added that she was in the biggest-grossing movie of the decade, but no director wanted to work with her.

Portman further stated that Mike Nichols, who revived her career by taking her on for his 2001 stage production of Chekhov's 'The Seagull,' wrote a letter to Anthony Minghella saying "Put her in Cold Mountain, I vouch for her."

She continued that then Minghella passed her on to Tom Tykwer, who passed her on to the Wachowskis, who cast her in 'V For Vendetta.'