Natalie Portman has stated that her role in the Star Wars prequels nearly ruined her career.

In a tribute to her Closer director Mike Nichols - who passed away last month - the Black Swan actress recalled her struggles with the sci-fi series when working on the project alongside 2001 movie The Seagull.

Portman told NY Magazine: "Star Wars had come out around the time of Seagull, and everyone thought I was a horrible actress.

"I was in the biggest-grossing movie of the decade, and no director wanted to work with me."

[related]She added: "Mike wrote a letter to Anthony Minghella and said, 'Put her in Cold Mountain, I vouch for her'. And then Anthony passed me on to Tom Tykwer, who passed me on to the Wachowskis."

Portman went on to reveal that Nichols also helped her after a break-up, stating: "I was at his apartment on the floor, and he picked me up and gave me a pep talk and sent me to a doctor and straightened me out - literally peeled me off the floor."