The usually impeccably gorgeous Natalie Portman looks a little off in the coverspread of this weekend's Parade Magazine. Maybe it's her hair? I've been loving her grown out locks, but something about this ages her too much. With the endearingly precious Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium [1] hitting theaters in a few weeks Natalie shared a few of the life lessons she has learned in her wise, wise 26 years. Including her regret over one revealing scene in Goya's Ghosts [2] that in the end wasn't even her. Here's highlights: [3]

[3]

• On growing up famous: The summer after seventh grade, I shot my first movie, The Professional. Looking back, I realize that I might not have been that sensitive when I told people about it, and it came off as bragging. I was going to a small private school, and the other kids completely turned against me. No one would talk to me. I was so miserable that I had to change schools. But it made me think about how what I say affects other people, and I corrected my bravado.
• On trusting her decisions, and that regret: I’ve always been something of a pleaser: I want to make other people happy. That’s not the worst thing. I mean, the fact that you like people and want them to like you is great—as long as you’re not sacrificing who you are. I’m not someone who has a lot of regrets, but last year I did something that I wasn’t comfortable with, and I’m really sorry I didn’t listen to my intuition. There was a scene in a movie that felt inappropriate for me, but I didn’t want to make waves. So I let myself get talked into it, even though it shook me up. From now on, I’m going to trust my gut more. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is say “no.” No matter how much you plan and how hard you try, you can’t predict the outcome of things.

As expected, Natalie sounds like she's got a great head on her shoulders and could teach a thing or two to her contemporaries. Just think, she's only in her mid-20s...and she's already corrected the silly mistakes of her youth. Sigh, kinda little miss perfect.

To see more of Natalie in one very green dress just