Natalie Portman gets real about her move to Paris – and why she likes it more than the United States.
“I think people here are actually incredibly friendly — you just have to know how to communicate so we’re not rude,” Portman, 43, told Net-a-Porter in a cover story published on Monday, May 12. “Now, when I go back to the States, I’m like, ‘Oh, I’d walk into a store and not say hello to everyone there? It’s weird.’”
Elsewhere in the interview, Portman explained that cultural differences are what lead to assumptions about rudeness.
“I think we have an assumption that Western cultures are all the same – and somehow flattened by all this pop culture that everyone consumes,” the actress explained. “It’s not true: it’s extremely specific here; and the culture is very different in both a deep and superficial way.”
One thing Portman noticed the French are better at? Boundaries with celebrities.
"They're very good at privacy here," she said with admiration. "I feel like the biggest compliment is 'elle est très discrète' ['she's very discreet']."
The actress moved to France with her two children, Aleph, 13, and Amalia, 8, whom she shares with ex-husband Benjamin Millepied. (Portman and Millepied finalized their divorce in February 2024. Us Weekly confirmed in March that she had moved in with music producer Tanguy Destable.)
"All the kids who come to my house say 'Bonjour Madame' - and give me a kiss on the cheek. And before they leave, they say 'Thank you for having me' - and if I'm not around, they'll come and find me to say it," she added.
Portman was more open about talking about her children after her divorce from Millepied.
"My kids are always a source of excitement, because you just watch them develop into the people they are," she said during a profile in Interview magazine published on April 15. "I've been spending a lot of time with my friends, with their kids and my kids; it's a lot of fun."
During the same interview, Portman offered a subtle allusion to her ex after their breakup. (It was rumored that Millepied had been unfaithful, which led to the end of their marriage.)
"Having kids, that wasn't really my motivation," she said, when asked if starting a family allowed for a "balance" between personal and professional life. "I was just excited to have kids and with someone I was in love with. But it's really important to have people in your life who keep you grounded."
The actress just sprinkled a little extra magic on the French Riviera. Always stylish, the actress and director made a guest appearance at the Cannes Film Festival on Friday, May 16, looking absolutely stunning in a sun-drenched photoshoot for her new animated film, Arco.
Natalie Portman is practically Cannes royalty, having graced the iconic red carpet countless times for some of her most memorable and critically acclaimed films. The star’s appearance this year comes at a time when the event is evolving. The festival is packed not only with film premieres, but also with talk of a newly announced, stricter dress code for the prestigious red carpet. Organizers announced the updated rules just before the festival kicks off on May 13, aiming to maintain “decency” by banning “nudity” — a clear nod to the popular “naked clothing” trend.
