Natalie Portman found comfort and connection in an unexpected place following her split from Benjamin Millepied.
She mentioned that her first meeting with Rihanna came at a time when she was going through her divorce. The encounter was significant for her, providing a much-needed boost during a challenging period.
“I think every woman going through a divorce should get to have Rihanna say to her that she’s a bad b—h,” Natalie told Jimmy Fallon during a July 15 appearance on The Tonight Show.
“It was—it was exactly what I needed.”
After Jimmy Fallon played the clip of Rihanna and Natalie Portman meeting for the first time, where Rihanna praised Natalie as “one of the hottest b—hes in Hollywood forever” and admitted she was unusually excited to meet her, Natalie humorously brushed away a tear, adding a touch of light-heartedness to the moment.
“It was,” she said, “a formative moment in my life.”
Natalie Portman’s reference to her divorce marks her first public comment on the matter since finalizing her divorce from Benjamin Millepied in March.
The couple, who were married for over a decade, share two children: Aleph, 12, and Amalia, 7.
The confirmation of Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied’s divorce came more than a year after reports emerged that Benjamin had engaged in an affair.
Natalie and Benjamin, who met on the set of Black Swan, did not publicly address the affair rumors directly. Instead, Natalie commented in February, saying,
“It’s terrible, and I have no desire to contribute to it.”
Although Natalie Portman had largely stayed quiet about her divorce before her late-night appearance, she did offer some insight into her support network when celebrating her 43rd birthday in June.
The Academy Award winner highlighted the strong community surrounding her during this time.
“This year, on my birthday,” she began her June 9 Instagram post, which featured a carousel of images from around the world, “I want to celebrate my gratitude for my friends who lift me up again and again.”
And part of that friendship magic involves a high level of normalcy.
“I lead a very non-Hollywood life in L.A.,” Natalie explained.
“I have some friends who are in the entertainment industry, but many friends who are not, and we don’t do industry things when we hang out. We’re not going to Hollywood parties, we’re having dinners at home in the backyard.”
