Natalie Portman still gets starstruck around Jennifer Grey.

The 32-year-old actress is a huge of the 'Dirty Dancing' star, and she can't help but ''freak out'' every time she meets her fellow Jewish star at synagogue.

She told the November issue of Elle magazine: ''Yes [I've met Jennifer]. We go to temple together.

''And I freak out every time I see her - I'm such a nerd ... She kind of gets the 'polite eyes' when she comes, because she knows I'm going to jump on her.

''I wish I weren't as nervous as I am around her. I can't get over it.''

The 'Black Swan' star still watches Jennifer's defining role ''over and over'', and she admitted she brings up the movie whenever they meet.

She said: ''Of course [we talk about 'Dirty Dancing']! I can't talk about it too much, or I'll start getting teary.

''There are other movies I love, but no other movie that I have watched over and over.''

Natalie - who has a 2-year-old son Aleph with husband Benjamin Millepied - also explained motherhood has put her career into perspective, with acting seeming much easier than ''being a mum''.

She added: ''Yes - acting feels really easy. I love being a mum, but it's much more intensive work than being an actress - going to work feels like you've got a day off.

''Not that I want a day off from being a mum, it's just perhaps I had this impression before that mums don't work. But they work more than anyone.''