Natalie Portman captured the best actress award at Sunday's Academy Awards, gliding past Annette Bening, Michelle Williams, Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Lawrence.

"I'm grateful to do the job that I get to do," she said.

Nominated for her role as the ambitious ballet dancer Nina Sayers in the Darren Aronofsky’s psychological thriller “Black Swan,” Portman underwent a drastic physical transformation losing a staggering 20 lbs from her already waif-like physique. Portman called Aronofsky a "fearless leader" in her victory speech.

This past award season, Portman took home the Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, British Academy of Film and Television, and Independent Spirit Award for her category.

Since gaining fame for her role as Queen Padme Amidala in the first three “Star Wars” films, Portman has gone off to take on more diverse parts from dramas such as “Closer,” and “Brothers” to the upcoming superhero film, “Thor.”

Portman has been acting since the age of 11.

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