20 Things You Didn't Know About The Social Network

15. Natalie Portman Provided Insight On Havard

the social network
Marvel Studios

As Cameron Winklevoss repeatedly exclaims, the main characters of The Social Network are primarily: "Gentlemen of Harvard." We spend most of the first half of the film at the prestigious American College but it may surprise you to learn that none of it was filmed there and Fincher received inside information on its Final Clubs from an unusual source.

Harvard does not allow commercial film shooting on its campus, so filming took place around different colleges in Massachusetts. More interestingly, it was Natalie Portman who ended up providing insight into Harvard life to Fincher.

The actress was studying at the college at the same time as Zuckerberg and was even name-dropped in the film during the following line:

"And Mark was the biggest thing on campus that included nineteen Nobel Laureates, fifteen Pulitzer Prize winners, two future Olympians and a movie star."

Coincidentally, Portman received her Best Actress Oscar for Black Swan, in the ceremony as The Social Network's wins.

Contributor
Contributor

22-year-old journalism graduate from Croydon. When I'm not moaning about or singing the praises of Doctor Who or a great film or two, I'm (unsuccessfully) looking for a job or setting up a podcast. Again usually unsuccessfully.