The 23-year-old Israeli-born actress won her first Oscar nomination this year for her role in "Closer," director Mike Nichols' story of a complex love quadrangle.

She has also appeared in "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones" as Padme Amidala and will appear later this year in the last of the famed series of movies, "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith."

Portman will join a long line of celebrity presenters of statuettes at the 77th annual Academy Awards on February 27.

They include veteran Oscar-winning superstars Dustin Hoffman and Al Pacino, as well as Hollywood darling Drew Barrymore.

Also signed up to appear on stage at the Kodak Theatre in less than two weeks are Oscar-nominated "Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind" star Kate Winslet and "Spider-Man" actress Kirsten Dunce.

Stars Robin Williams, Gwyneth Paltrow, Halle Berry, famed director Martin Scorsese and Hollywood imports Zhang Ziyi and Penelope Cruz are also presenting this year, along with last year's best actress Oscar winner, South African star Charlize Theron and the 2003 winner, Renee Zellweger.

"Lord of the Rings" star Orlando Bloom has also signed on to hand out the so-called "golden guys."

Nominations for the Academy Awards were announced late last month, with "The Aviator" leading the pack with 11 nominations including best picture, best director and best actor for Leonardo DiCaprio.

The 110-million-dollar film tells the story of eccentric US billionaire, flyer and moviemaker Howard Hughes.
Clint Eastwood's "Million Dollar Baby" and "Finding Neverland," the story of Peter Pan author J.M. Barrie, were next in the rankings with seven nominations each including best picture. Enditem