(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Natalie Portman believes she wouldnt have made the transition from child star to adult actress without the support of her parents.

The star, who is due to give birth to her first child in the summer, thinks her family have been instrumental in her film success. Since starring in 90s cult classic Lon as a 13-year-old, Natalie has been destined for big things.

This year she realised that potential, winning her first best actress Academy Award for psychological drama Black Swan. The 29-year-old feels she managed to make the awkward transition, due to good parenting.

I think a lot of child actors are supporting their families, but my parents never took a penny from me. They are not benefiting from all of this in any weird way, they are just my parents and if I decided to stop tomorrow, they would love me just as much. Just having that stability is something that you can always draw from, she told new! magazine.

Far from pressurising their daughter, Natalie confirms her parents used to actively encourage her to pursue recreational activities away from films, to no avail. Though she didnt appreciate their efforts when she was a child, Natalie does plan to take a leaf out of her parents book, in time for her newborns arrival.

I would beg and cry and plead! In fact [my parents] were always encouraging me not to work to go to school and to have experiences with my friends, to go and play. That is what I aspire to be like with mine, she explained. (C) Cover Media