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Portman and her costar were kissing for a scene in the film Free Zone, while standing in front of Jerusalem's Western Wall, once part of a biblical Jewish temple, which is considered one of the holiest Jewish sites, the Associated Press reports.
Men and women are not permitted casual contact at the site. In fact, a barrier at the wall separates men and women.
When a crowd of worshippers saw the actors kissing for the scene, they charged and shouted at them, claiming the couple was immoral. According to reports, police had to intervene and ask the actors to leave, which they did.
Portman, who is of Israeli descent, sought work on Free Zone after seeing other films by its director, Amos Gitai, Reuters reports. In the movie, she plays an American who falls in love with an Israeli man and encounters many issues of cultural identity. Her decision to take the part was influenced by her being born in Israel and growing up in the United States. "There's a sort of split between where you belong and not quite knowing where you belong," she said.
The 23-year-old actress, who is nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in Closer, has been studying at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University in recent months, AP reports.
