The Jordanian queen and the US-Israeli actress both spoke at the launch of the Village Banking Campaign, which aims to bring banking services to one million of the world's most destitute families.

As part of the Middle East effort, the queen said FINCA International (Foundation for International Community Assistance), a global microcredit group, plans to start its first operations in Jordan in July.

"I know that creating opportunity in my region is not an option; it is a necessity," the queen said as she unveiled the campaign at New York University at a luncheon attended by Golden Globe-winning Portman, FINCA staffers, business executives and students.