Following her appearanceas Queen Amidala in 'The Phantom Menace', Natalie Portman is probably the most famous teenager in the world. So what's she doing studying chemistry and Hebrew at college? Popcorn meets her to find out...

Natalie Portman first rose to prominence as a precocious Lolita-type in Luc Besson's 'Leon', but it was as Queen Amidala in 'The Phantom Menace' that she found an international audience. The 18-year-old talks to RONALD RYNNING about her latest film, 'Anywhere But Here', why she won't do nude scenes and that little-known George Lucas franchise...

Q: In 'Anywhere But Here' you play a teenager trying to cope with an eccentric, over-protective mother. Did you identify with your character?

NP: Yes. My parents are wonderful, but every adolescent goes through some version of what my character does in 'Anywhere But Here'. Like my character, I've definitely been embarrassed by my parents. My mother's voice tends to get a little loud and therefore she draws attention to us anywhere we go.

Q: In which ways are you and your character similar?

NP: I'm very much like her in my desires for who I want to be and things I want to do. Education is very important to me. As it is to her. To be independent is important to me. She is trying to break free from her mother, and I was thinking about leaving home for college at the time I was filming. I started college in September, so I'm at the same point as she was at the end of the film.

Q: Why did you first turn down the film?

NP: It had a sex scene that I didn't want to do. I only accepted the role when Wayne [Wang, the director] promised the scene would be rewritten. I don't want to do nudity and I turned down the Christina Ricci role in 'The Ice Storm' for the same reason. Young actors often don't think of the consequences of doing nudity or sex scenes. They want the role so badly they agree to be exploited and then end up embarrassing family, friends and even strangers.

Q: What are you studying?

NP: I'm studying chemistry, advanced Hebrew and English.

Q: How do the other students treat you?

NP: People know who I am on my campus and in my classes, but they don't bother me. They're all interesting, intelligent people in their own right. There are no 'Star Wars' geeks here.

Q: Do you have a boyfriend?

NP: No, but I want to fall in love. I'm waiting for it all to happen, but it hasn't yet.

Q: What kind of boys do you like?

NP: I like boys who are smart, funny and loyal and who can talk about everything. I like boys who are moved by art. I've been taken to museums and exposed to all kinds of experiences, so I'd like someone who can share these things with me.

Q: Has the success of 'The Phantom Menace' changed your life?

NP: Not much. I used to never get recognized. Now I am a bit, but it's nowhere near what I feared. It's not horrible because I'm small and don't wear flashy clothes.

Q: What is the worst thing about fame?

NP: Once a radio station had a contest to find out where my school was, and they gave tickets to a Backstreet Boys concert as prizes. I was very upset and didn't go to school for a while. But usually people are very nice. Only occasionally do I get some nasty phone calls or see somebody writing dirty things on the Internet. It gets me depressed about how people are.

Q: Did you like the film?

NP: I thought it was unbelievably exciting and wonderful. The first time I saw it, I was totally shocked by how beautiful it was to look at.

Q: Are you looking forward to the next 'Star Wars' film?

NP: Yes, I'm excited about it. The last movie was hard work and very long days, but I had so much fun. The next movie is going to be made next summer in Australia and it's going to be a love story. Amidala is going to fall in love and it's going to be interesting to see how she changes because she's so stony and severe in the first film.

Q: What do you think about the 'Star Wars' fanatics?

NP: I appreciate the fans and that people are passionate about the movies. And it's lovely to experience the movie with the fans. My other films have been seen by six people, so I never got much feedback before.

Q: Finally, how would you describe yourself?

NP: I'm not very shy. And people think I'm serious. I come off as very serious, but I'm not. I know how to have a good time. I know how to party.