Natalie Portman: How to Stay True to Yourself When the Whole World Is Watching

She’s an actress, an icon of intelligence and independence, a woman whose quiet elegance inspires admiration across the globe. But in an interview with Interview magazine, Natalie Portman allowed herself to be vulnerable — and honest — for the first time.

She’s an actress, an icon of intelligence and independence, a woman whose quiet elegance inspires admiration across the globe. But in an interview with Interview magazine, Natalie Portman allowed herself to be vulnerable — and honest — for the first time. This was her first public conversation following her highly publicized divorce from ballet dancer Benjamin Millepied, and it turned out to be more than just personal — it became a manifesto of maturity and strength.

Portman speaks about what many prefer to keep silent. Reflecting on the early stages of her career, she admits that childhood fame brought not only applause but also the painful experience of sexualization. At just 13, after starring in Léon: The Professional, she was thrown into the spotlight in a way she wasn’t prepared for. “I felt the only way to protect myself was to create an image: serious, smart, studious. Not someone you could touch,” she shares. That image became her shield — and her salvation.

Years later, Natalie still carefully guards her private life. “I’m not a particularly secretive person in real life, but I’ve drawn boundaries to protect my family,” she explains. Photos with her kids? Not for magazines. And while that firmness might sometimes be mistaken for coldness, behind it lies a mother’s tenderness and a woman’s clarity about what she wants.

Her divorce from Millepied after 11 years of marriage marked a turning point. The reason? Infidelity. But Natalie speaks of it calmly, without bitterness, and with respect for the past: “Having children wasn’t the main goal of my marriage, but I was happy to have them with someone I loved.” Today, her son is 13 and her daughter is 8 — they are her biggest concern and her source of strength.

It’s fascinating to see how personal life influences creative work. During the filming of Guy Ritchie’s The Fountain of Youth, Portman was in search of a moment of happiness, but instead found herself immersed in emotionally complex material — constantly balancing between personal turmoil and professional demand.

Today, Natalie continues to work at full pace: she recently wrapped filming The Galerist with Jenna Ortega, is preparing for a leading role in Lena Dunham’s Good Sex, and is reportedly dating French musician Tanguy Detable. But most importantly — she remains true to herself. And that is what truly inspires us.