Natalie Portman Teams With Oscar-Winning Director for New Movie Photograph 51

Actress Natalie Portman, winner of an Academy Award, has agreed to take the main part in the upcoming historical film named “Photograph 51.” This production comes from accomplished director Tom Hooper, who is famed for his work on critically acclaimed films like The King’s Speech, Les Misérables, and The Danish Girl.

Hooper expressed his fascination for tales that highlight individuals often overlooked, yet significantly impactful, in a statement. He pointed out figures like Lionel Logue from The King’s Speech, Lili Elbe from The Danish Girl, and now Rosalind Franklin, who made the unseen visible with her DNA work, only to be overshadowed by male colleagues and competitors. Hooper is eager to share this captivating narrative of science, competition, betrayal, and redemption, penned by Anna Ziegler, and believes Natalie Portman’s talent will bring Rosalind Franklin to life with her intelligence, intensity, brilliance, and wit. He is excited about collaborating with Natalie, as well as working alongside Leviathan Productions, Red Yes Studio, and FilmNation once more.

What is Natalie Portman’s character in the new historical movie?

In this rendition, Portman takes on the character of Rosalind Franklin, a British scientist renowned for revealing the secret structure of DNA. Unfortunately, she did not receive due acknowledgment for her invaluable work during her lifetime. The film is directed by Hooper from a script penned by Anna Ziegler, adapted from her stage play with the same name. Ben Cosgrove for Leviathan Productions, Mandy Greenfield for Red Yes Studio, and Hooper are the producers. This production is under FilmNation Entertainment, who will be funding it and overseeing its international distribution.

The movie, titled “Photograph 51,” tells the story of a brilliant but overlooked scientist named Rosalind Franklin. Her groundbreaking work in x-ray crystallography led to the discovery of DNA’s double-helix structure, a finding that revolutionized our understanding of genetics. However, Watson and Crick, who were working on the same puzzle in a rival lab, were awarded the Nobel Prize for this discovery without any recognition of Franklin’s crucial contributions. Over time, Franklin has been referred to as the “wronged heroine,” the “dark lady of DNA,” the “forgotten heroine,” a “feminist icon,” and the “Sylvia Plath of molecular biology.” Despite her pivotal role remaining largely in the shadows, this film seeks to shed light on Franklin’s relentless pursuit to decode the secrets of all human life as she navigated through both allies and adversaries before her tragic death at the age of 37.

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2025-05-08 22:51