Natalie Portman is finally speaking out about her divorce from ex-husband Benjamin Millepied. The Oscar-winning actress recently appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and spoke about her divorce for the first time and even sang praises for singer Rihanna.
Natalie and Rihanna reportedly had a brief interaction earlier this year in January, meeting outside the Dior Haute Couture show during Paris Fashion Week. The video of the two women chatting had gone viral back then – with the two lauding one another with compliments.
“It was an amazing experience for me,” Portman told Fallon, recalling her meeting with the singer. “I think every woman going through a divorce should get to have Rihanna say to her that she’s a ‘bad b—-.’”
“It was exactly what I needed,” Portman said of the Rihanna interaction before Fallon rolled the tape of the two meeting.
In the video Portman can be heard saying “I love you,” to the singer as they hugged. “I am a f—ing fan,” Rihanna fired back. “Are you kidding me?” Portman said.
“You are one of the hottest b—-es in Hollywood. Forever,” Rihanna professed. “I’m gonna faint,” Portman declared. Natalie Portman has divorced her husband Benjamin Millepied: Reports
“You do the most innocent look, and I’m like ‘Ahh,’” Rihanna added in the video. “I don’t get excited about anybody, but I f—ing love you.”
After the video was played, Portman told Fallon, “It was a formative moment in my life.” The actress reiterated her feelings on the Today Show with Hoda & Jenna.
“It was exactly what I needed at that moment in my life,” she told Hoda Kotb and Justin Sylvester. “And she served it to me. And I’m forever grateful. I love her… She is the hottest.”
Portman, 43, filed for divorce from Millepied, a dancer and choreographer, in July 2023. The divorce was finalised in March 2024. Portman and Millepied had met on the sets of the 2010 film Black Swan. Rumours of infidelity plagued the couple before their split. A French magazine reported that Millepied had an affair.