The Academy Award-winning actress Natalie Portman is to move behind the scenes for her new project.

The Jewish star , who recently gave birth to her first child , is to be an executive producer for a new television series about privileged Americans.

According to industry website Deadline, she is one of the showbiz backers supporting the series for the ABC network.

The project will be a follow-up to a 1980s mini-series called Scruples, which followed the lives of members of a wealthy Boston family.

It was based on a novel by Judith Krantz and the new version will be directed by Ms Krantz's son Tony.

Ms Portman is not the only Jewish star to turn her attention to the other side of the camera. Dustin Hoffman is to direct The Quartet, a film about former opera stars in a retirement home.

The cast includes top British actors Dame Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay and Michael Gambon.