Celebrity Poker: Natalie Portman

Tons of celebrities are having a big break not jus7t in a big screen but in poker table. Among the most popular poker celebrities today play poker to enjoy as well as experience something new to try. Despite their celebrity status, some of these players have even developed a deeper love and devotion to the game of poker.




As I googled Natalie Portman, I found out that she is even a poker plyer. Sha had a poker movie called, My Blueberry Nights. Here's Portman's blog about her poker scene in the movie:

As a poker player, poker author and movie lover, I almost always find myself cringing as I watch dramatic renditions of poker games on the screen. It’s not just the hands themselves that defy credibility, invariably pitting royal flushes against four aces, it’s the language — the classic “I call your fifty and raise you a hunnerd” string bet — and the clumsy way the players handle the chips and cards. Until Rounders, I had never seen a movie in which poker actually resembled the game I know.

So I was thrilled when, a couple of years ago, I was asked to be the poker consultant on My Blueberry Nights, the first American movie by the acclaimed Chinese director Wong Kar-wai. One of the movie’s plotlines features Natalie Portman as a seasoned poker pro, and Mr. Wong, whose films have a romantic, moody beauty, characterized by multilayered visuals and gorgeous sweeping camera work, was curiously adamant that the poker be authentic. He needed someone to help make sure Ms. Natalie Portman looked and sounded like the real thing.

When I arrived for our interview, Mr. Wong stood up to greet me. He was extremely tall with dark sunglasses and a coolly affable, almost courtly manner. He insisted right off that I address him more familiarly as Kar-wai, and though his English was only fair, I was able to understand him when he said, “People must believe Natalie is a professional poker player.”



I assured him I could make that happen. If there was one thing I knew, it was what professionals looked like, how they thought, how they talked and how they carried themselves. Aside from having written two books about poker, I had played for many years as a semipro in the underground New York poker scene and had also frequently attended the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas (with a number of cashes in bracelet events to show for my efforts).

While I tried to arrange a time with Natalie (scheduling with a movie star can be tricky), Kar-wai decided he wanted me to take him on a tour of the New York underground poker clubs so he could get a feel for the world. So, on a Thursday night we met downtown, and I took him and production designer William Chang first to an Italian-American social club and then to a club in the East 30s. We stayed in the social club for all of five minutes, as it apparently did not impress either man much, what with its bad fluorescent lighting and bare white walls. At the club in the East 30s, we were frisked by a large black gentleman standing guard outside the interior doorway before being allowed to enter. I quickly bought into one of the $2-$5 no-limit games so that Kar-wai and William could stand behind me and watch and get a sense of the poker. But after three hands, Kar-wai whispered into my ear, “We’re leaving. We’ve seen enough.”



The door opened and there stood Natalie in blue jeans, a T-shirt and sneakers, petite and fresh-faced and otherworldly beautiful. I could feel sweat flowering under my arms. She flashed a shy smile, gave me an unexpected peck on the cheek and beckoned me in. Her living room was sparsely furnished and had a spectacular view of the Hudson River. Around the corner, by the kitchen nook, a woman about my age was sitting on a stool.


It turned out that Natalie had no real foundation in poker. So we sat at the regulation green felt poker table the prop department had delivered to her apartment, and I started with the basics — the object of the game, hand values and so on. She was a quick study. Once she got a handle on the rudiments, we played a few hands. I wanted her to have a working understanding of the game even though I knew that, ultimately, her grasp of how to play would be less important than her body language and physical movements. Toward that end, Kar-wai and I both felt it would be useful if she watched video of some of the professional game’s top women players. I had brought along a DVD of the World Poker Tour Ladies Night, featuring Annie Duke, Isabelle Mercier, Kathy Liebert and Jennifer Harman among others.




“Notice the way Jennifer Harman lifts up her cards,” I pointed out as we watched the DVD together. “The way she counts out her chips. You see how nothing is rushed. It’s all part of a process. Perhaps Jennifer’s thinking about how to extract the maximum amount out of this hand. Or perhaps she’s thinking about how much she needs to bet here to get her opponent to fold.”

Natalie Portman nodded politely but her eyes began to glaze over. I could see I was trying to do too much, too quickly. For the purposes of a movie, as I said, all she really needed was to look like a pro; she didn’t need to think like one. “Why don’t you just watch this a couple of times without me when you have a chance,” I said, “and maybe pick one of the players to model yourself after.”


Source: Natalie Portman.com

About Natalie Portman: Today Natalie Portman is one of the hottest actresses in Hollywood and she keeps getting film roles that are popular at the box office and allow her to flex her powerful acting muscles. Early film roles in films like Heat, Beautiful Girls, William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet and Mars Attacks! made her gain popularity and would eventually to one of the biggest roles a young actress can ask for, Queen Amidala in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.

Natalie Portman's 2008 projects include The Other Boleyn Girl. She also ranked No. 15 on AskMen.com's annual Top 99 women of 2008. With so many blockbusters under her belt, not to mention her stunning presence, why wouldn't she have made our list of leading ladies to look out!

The Poker Vampire: Peter Facinelli

Celebrities bombarded the poker game and this time, its the vampires turn! As Peter Facinelli or known as Dr. Carlisle Cullen in the Twilight saga is playing poker! It’s no secret that Peter Facinelli is an avid poker player. He appeared on the program Celebrity Poker Showdown.

Peter Facinelli was once participated in a celebrity charity poker tournament, to benefit the center’s domestic violence victims. He came rub elbows with poker pros and Hollywood celebrities at the 1736 Family Crisis Center’s third annual fund raising poker tournament.

Jason Alexander will host the event to benefit the center’s domestic violence victims, their children, and homeless and abandoned youth. On hand for the tournament will be poker celebrities Jamie Gold and Greg Raymer, Hollywood stars Montel Williams, Cheryl Hines, Mimi Rogers, Peter Facinelli, Romany Malco, Rob Morrow, Patrick Cassidy, Bobby Costanzo, Scott Elrod and Daniel Baldwin, and KCAL weather reporter Jackie Johnson.

He also participated in the biggest and brightest poker tournament, the London Open 2005- World Poker Exchnage Celebrity poker enthusiasts and top poker pros are set to play in the 4-day event. First round of celebrity players who take a shot at the $2 million prize pool include Jennie Garth, Mimi Rogers, Richard Kind, Willie Garson and Nicholas Gonzalez.

Here's some snippets of the interview of Vanity Fair with Peter Facinelli:

As the patriarch of the Cullen clan, have you assumed a similar fatherly role with the cast? Peter Facinelli: You know, on Twilight I feel like they looked to me as the father figure, but because we became so close, I’m more of an older brother now.

How does New Moon differ from Twilight? Peter Facinelli: You know, Twilight was an independent movie. It was shot very documentary style, the way Catherine [Hardwicke, Twilight’s director] shoots. It has a rawness to it, which I think is nice. New Moon’s a little bit crisper, it has a little bit more of a studio feel, but it still has that edge.

Has there been a difference in the way you interact as a cast since you filmed Twilight?

Peter Facinelli: Rob (Robert Pattinson) has more security guards hanging around him! [Laughs] Other than that, not really. We really enjoy each other’s company, and we’ve been working so much on this movie that we really haven’t had as much time to hang out with each other. We’re putting in these long hours and then just heading home. Usually we just try to catch dinner with each other then get back up the next morning and do it all over again.

What has this done for your career?

Peter Facinelli: I’ve done a lot of movies and different roles, and this is another role that I love to play. I look forward to continue doing a lot more. It’s definitely broadened my fan base even with my own kids. For a long time, they didn’t get to see any of the work I’ve done because of the mature content.

What’s it like playing the same character for three different directors?

Peter Facinelli: That gets interesting. It’s exciting in one way because every director brings their own flavor to the movie. Each director’s personality is different so you kind of have to adapt to their way of working, but I’ve had really good experiences on all three. Sometimes it’s nice working with the same person over and over because there’s a familiarity, but I’m used to working with different directors. On Nurse Jackie we get different directors on each episode.

I like it because they bring different ideas and make you think of things you might not have thought of before—pushing you to look at it from different angles. I think it’s harder on the directors to come in and try to make these movies as grand as Twilight was and take on the responsibility of getting the story accurate in terms of telling it from the book. Then they have a whole cast that they haven’t dealt with before, so I think it would be more daunting for the director.

About Peter Facinelli: Born in the Ozone Park neighborhood of Queens, NY on Nov. 26, 1973, he was the son of Italian immigrants and the youngest of four children. After a year of college at St John’s University in Jamaica, NY, he developed a passion for acting, and began studying the craft at the New York University-affiliated Atlantic Theater Company Acting School. Among his teachers were such noted stage and screen stars as William H. Macy, Felicity Huffman, and Giancarlo Esposito.

After logging numerous roles in the Company’s productions, he made his feature film debut as the Devil in Rebecca Miller’s “Angela” in 1995, the buzz about Facinelli after “Can’t Hardly Wait” thrust him into the Hollywood spotlight, where he was snapped up for several major projects, each of which should have propelled him to the next level of stardom. Peter Facinelli then segued to HBO’s acclaimed drama “Six Feet Under,” where he shared a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination in 2005 for his recurring role of Jimmy.

Once again, the buzz surrounding Facinelli after “Damages” led to a string of quality projects. Chief among these was “Twilight,” Catherine Hardwicke’s adaptation of the popular Gothic romance novels by Stephenie Meyer. Facinelli was cast as Carlisle Cullen, a small town doctor who also serves as the benevolent patriarch of a clan of vampires.

The Poker Gladiator: Russell Crowe

You gotta know when to fold 'em! As I red the news about celebrity poker players, I caught my attention to Russell Crowe. In the news, an Oscar-winning Hollywood actor Russell Crowe is pushing to oust poker machines from an Australian sports club, after research showed half the money spent on gambling came from welfare payments.



Russell Crowe axed scantily dressed cheerleaders from his South Sydney Rabbitohs rugby league club, believed the club should not rely on gambling to make money, co-owner Peter Holmes a Court told local media. The banks of poker machines are a staple in many Australian pubs and clubs, with the earnings underwriting other club activities and contributing billions of dollars in tax revenue to state governments.

However, problem gambling is gaining greater attention, with federal politicians recently attacking state governments for relying too heavily on poker machine takes. Russell Crowe wants the club, which is located in one of Sydney's less affluent regions, to dump 160 poker machines that local media estimated contributed about A$7 million ($6 million) in revenue a year. Research had shown welfare payments made up 33 to 70% of the money gambled on poker machines in low income areas with high unemployment, Holmes a Court said. The proposal has to be approved by the club's board, but he hoped the club would be able to make up the revenue shortfall through other activities and would also be able to attract new sponsors.

About Russell Crowe: Russell Crowe's success was, at this point, only limited to the land of kangaroos and koalas, until a certain Sharon Stone caught his Romper Stomper performance and was convinced that he was the perfect fit for her film The Quick and the Dead. Crowe was the only positive part of the film, which stayed true to its name and died quickly at the box-office.

In 1999, Crowe's portrayal of real-life whistle-blower Jeffrey Wigand in the drama The Insider earned the actor rave reviews, as well as a Best Actor Oscar nomination. As Roman general Maximus in the blockbuster epic, Gladiator, Russell Crowe showed moviegoers and critics alike that he was unstoppable in the Roman arena, and in Hollywood, with his Oscar for Best Actor in a Motion Picture in 2001.

Russell Crowe beat out Hollywood stalwart Tom Hanks, among others, to take home the Oscar. Gladiator won in five categories, including the night's biggest honor, Best Picture. His Maximus role also garnered him Best Actor awards from the Broadcast Film Critics Association, San Diego Film Critics, and Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association.

Moreover, Crowe's movies soared high in the movie scene including: Cinderella Man, Master and Commander, American Gangster, A beautiful Mind and 3:10 to Yuma.

Born in New Zealand, Crowe was raised in Australia, where he was first recognized for his work on the screen. He was honored for three consecutive years by the Australian Film Institute (AFI), beginning in 1991 when he was nominated for Best Actor in a Lead Role for "The Crossing."

The following year, he won the AFI's Best Supporting Actor Award for "Proof," and in 1992 he received Best Actor Awards from both the AFI and the Australian Film Critics Circle for his performance in the controversial feature "Romper Stomper," which brought him international attention.

The Poker Diva: Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey's high-octave act has ensured that she remained high in public visibility stats throughout her career. She is an icon in the music industry. Her button-popping body has hordes of fans wanting more.




Her quirky off-stage behavior keeps her name in the papers even after being in the limelight for quite some time. Mariah Carey has been seen playing poker and has also graced a few celeb poker events.

Visting a nearby casino Carey walked away with her booty after just three rounds of the game, though she admits her success may not have been all down to skill.

Mariah Carey won $27,000 at a poker game in Las Vegas last september 2005. The poker diva, who won $27,000 after just three rounds of the game, confessed she's not a poker player, so the winning was not on account of her skills.

"I used to play poker with my sister. But I think my low-cut dress put some of the guys off." Mariah Carey explained.

About Mariah Carey: Mariah Carey distinguishes herself as a hit songwriter as well as a diva with a compelling five-octave range. Her 1990 hit single, "Vision of Love," was the beginning of her rise, which has resulted in more top singles than Elvis Presley.


Patricia Hickey discovered Mariah’s talent for singing when she was just three years old. While preparing for a role in an opera production, Patricia noticed that baby Mariah was mimicking her exact same notes. Patricia, a former vocal coach, immediately began Mariah’s vocal training.

She began working with musicians when she was 13, and at 16 she started writing songs with Ben Margulies, a young composer who collaborated with her on six of the 11 songs on "Maria Carey" (Columbia, 1990). Her big break came in November 1988 when Brenda K. Starr, a dance-pop vocalist with whom she had worked in clubs, took her to a party to celebrate the inauguration of WTG Records, a CBS-affiliated label run by Jerry Greenberg.


Mariah Carey’s new “E=MC2” (Island Def Jam), lost 61 percent of its sales in its second week out, but it’s still the No. 1 album in the country. It moved 182,000 copes, according to Nielsen SoundScan, bringing its two-week total to 645,000.

She also had a successful albums including The Emancipation of Mimi and Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel which has a controversial single “Obsessed” that allegedly her song to Eminem.

The World Music Awards recognized her as the world's biggest-selling artist of the '90s and declared her the best-selling female pop artist of all time in 2000. She has produced every one of her ten studio albums, except the debut one and directed music her videos.

Celebrity Poker: Doug Savant

What do celebrities have in common that it seems people just cannot get enough of them. Is it their charisma, good looks, or mass appeal? No matter what their reasons are, people indeed just cannot pass up on their favorite celebrities appearing on television.



Some of these celebrities may know very little about poker, but one way or the other, they may have been hooked into the excitement and fun brought about by the game. It sure is fun to see these wonderful people go at each other for amateur poker supremacy. They may differ in their skills at the game, but they sure provide total entertainment for all their fans as they watch very closely on their idols.

One of the most famous celebrities who happily participated in these celebrity poker tournaments is television actor Doug Savant. Like all the professional actors out there, he has already established himself as a television icon as he appeared in some of the most successful television series. These include a stint at television hits "Melrose Place," "JAG," and the worldwide phenomenon "Desperate Housewives."

Savant's effective portrayal of the different television characters that he played made him a fan-favorite. He also starred in other television programs like "Firefly," "Nip/Tuck," and "24." He appeared in one of the tournaments of the "Celebrity Poker Showdown."

In this tournament, he went against his fellow "Desperate Housewives" actor for a very exciting poker showdown.

In his stint as a celebrity poker Savant played for the Desi Geestman Foundation. This charitable institution aims to help children who are already afflicted by cancer at a very young age.

This foundation also aims to help the families of cancer patients to cope with the condition of their loved ones who are suffering so much from the disease. The charitable institution will also try their best to provide these children with better living conditions.

Celebrity poker events like this provide viewers a chance to see the good side of their favorite stars. Savant showed that to the world by taking part in the event. Hopefully, more and more celebrities will join these charitable functions for a better society.

An innumerable number of people would definitely be pleased with what Savant and the other celebrities have done to help the different charitable groups achieve their humanitarian goals.