Washington (ANI): Actress Natalie Portman is optimism personified, for she is convinced that the international recession has its upside, as it will allow people to rethink their priorities.

The Star Wars actress, who filmed a Funny Or Die comedy sketch about the financial crisis last year, insists that workers who are now worse off will be able to get their lives back on track, and find the career they have always wanted.

"I think it's kind of an exciting time. I mean, everyone is cutting back. It's happening in every industry - including our own. All of a sudden, people are doing jobs that they hate and they're not making as much money as they thought they would or they've lost their jobs entirely," Contactmusic quoted her as saying.

Portman added: “I've started to see people looking more toward their own passions and what really excites them."