“Finding Strength and Support: Natalie Portman Reflects on Resilience Amid Personal Challenges”
At the beginning of this year, Natalie Portman faced a challenging period as she finalized her divorce from Benjamin Millepied, her husband of over ten years. The couple, who share children Aleph, 12, and Amalia, seven, had separated the previous year amid reports linking Millepied to a younger French climate activist, culminating in their divorce being finalized in February.
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Natalie Portman
Despite these personal difficulties, the Oscar-winning actress maintained a strong public presence, attending various high-profile events from Paris Fashion Week to the Film Independent Spirit Awards. One particular moment stood out as a uplifting highlight during this time.
In January, Natalie and fellow A-Lister Rihanna captured widespread attention with a spontaneous and heartwarming interaction outside the Dior Haute Couture Show in Paris. A video shared by Bustle depicted the two embracing warmly and exchanging compliments, with Rihanna declaring Natalie as “one of the hottest [expletive] in Hollywood forever,” reciprocated by Natalie praising Rihanna in return.
Six months later, on Monday, July 15, Natalie appeared on the Today Show to promote her upcoming television series, Lady in the Lake, where she reflected on the impact of that memorable encounter. Speaking with host Hoda Kotb, Natalie expressed gratitude, saying, “Listen, it’s the confidence boost of a lifetime. I mean, it was really exactly what I needed at that moment in my life, she served it to me.”
The interaction occurred on January 22, shortly before her divorce was finalized in France.
“I’m forever grateful, and I love her,” Natalie added warmly, acknowledging Rihanna’s support during a pivotal time. “I mean, she’s the hottest, let’s be honest.”
Following their meeting, Natalie shared a photo of their embrace on Instagram, captioning it with, “Still not over this…” The post garnered enthusiastic responses from celebrities like Julianne Moore, Charles Melton, and America Ferrera, who praised the encounter as a meeting of queens.
As Natalie celebrates her first birthday since the divorce on June 9, marking her 43rd year, she expressed profound gratitude for her friends who have supported her throughout the past year. Posting a series of photos with her closest friends, she wrote, “This year, on my birthday, I want to celebrate my gratitude for my friends who lift me up again and again.”
