Natalie Portman Backs Loan Scheme for Developing World Women  4/30/07

Movie beauty Natalie Portman is backing a program aiming to provide women in developing countries with small loans.

The Closer actress has been working with loan company FINCA International and has seen first hand the difference a small monetary advance can make.

Speaking on US TV's This Week show, Portman said, "They're able to get a loan and start their own business out of their own house and be with their children.

It changes the whole system."

She adds, "If a woman can't tell her child, 'I can feed you tomorrow, I can pay for your school,' then where do they go? What do they do? What do they choose?

"It's really trying to reach the poorest of the poor and offering banking services to them."