USA Today caught up with Natalie Portman and Bai Ling at the premiere of Cold Mountain:

Dressed in black Prada, Natalie Portman displayed her new 'do, cut very much in the style of Catherine Zeta-Jones' Velma Kelly character from Chicago. Portman plays the widowed mother of an infant in Cold Mountain.

In May 2005, Portman will again play mother (and wear expanding pregnancy padding) when her Star Wars: Episode III character, Padm? Amidala, gives birth to twins, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. Comparing her two maternal roles, Portman said, "Both have a heavy responsibility where their own survival becomes crucial to their children's survival."

Among the guests at the St. Regis after-party was actress Bai Ling. Ling also appears in the next Star Wars, playing Senator Bana Breemu alongside Portman. "My character helps put Padm?'s mind at peace when she's in trouble," Ling previewed.

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