Natalie Portman, the Academy Award-winning actress known for her performances in films like Black Swan and Thor, has experienced both the heights of Hollywood romance and the challenges of public separation. The question “Who is Natalie Portman married to?” has evolved significantly over the past year, as the actress is no longer married following her divorce from French choreographer Benjamin Millepied in 2024.
Their love story began like something out of a movie script – quite literally on a movie set. What started as a professional collaboration between an actress and her dance instructor blossomed into a decade-long marriage that produced two children and weathered the storms of international relocations, demanding careers, and ultimately, personal betrayal. The couple’s relationship timeline spans from their initial meeting in 2009 during the production of Black Swan to their finalized divorce in early 2024.
Portman’s journey from single actress to married mother of two, and eventually to divorced co-parent, reflects the complex realities of maintaining relationships in the public eye. Their story encompasses the fairy-tale beginning of meeting on set, the joy of building a family together, the challenges of balancing international careers, and the difficult decision to end their marriage following reports of infidelity. Understanding this timeline provides insight into how two successful artists navigated love, parenthood, and ultimately, separation while prioritizing their children’s well-being above all else.
The Beginning: A Black Swan Love Story
Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied (Image via Getty)
Natalie Portman’s romantic journey with Benjamin Millepied began in 2009 on the set of Darren Aronofsky’s psychological thriller Black Swan. At the time, Portman was preparing for one of the most physically and mentally demanding roles of her career, requiring her to master complex ballet techniques to convincingly portray a professional ballerina. Enter Benjamin Millepied, a accomplished French dancer and choreographer who was hired to train Portman and choreograph the film’s intricate dance sequences.
The professional relationship quickly evolved into something more personal. Portman later described their connection during a SiriusXM Town Hall interview, saying, “He was teaching me to dance, and it was definitely exciting and fun. It was beautiful.” The actress revealed that she began falling in love with Millepied during their dance training sessions, describing the experience as being in “dreamland” while working on Black Swan.
Millepied, who was 32 at the time, left his previous relationship with Isabella Boylston, a principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, to pursue his connection with Portman. Their romance blossomed as filming wrapped, and they began dating seriously by late 2009. The couple managed to keep their relationship relatively private during its early stages, focusing on building their connection away from the intense media scrutiny that typically surrounds high-profile Hollywood relationships.
Engagement, Marriage, and Building a Family
By December 2010, just over a year after meeting, Portman and Millepied had taken their relationship to the next level. The couple announced their engagement along with the exciting news that they were expecting their first child together. The engagement ring, designed by jewelry designer Jamie Wolf, was crafted from recycled platinum and featured an antique diamond, reflecting Portman’s commitment to ethical and sustainable practices.
Their first child, son Aleph, was born on June 14, 2011. The couple chose to name him Aleph, which is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, reflecting Portman’s Jewish heritage. Following Aleph’s birth, the couple prepared for their wedding, which took place on August 4, 2012, in a private Jewish ceremony held in Big Sur, California.
The wedding was an intimate affair, keeping with both Portman’s preference for privacy and the couple’s desire to celebrate their union away from media attention. Millepied, who was raised Catholic, began converting to Judaism in 2014 to embrace his wife’s faith and create a unified religious foundation for their family.
In 2017, the couple welcomed their second child, daughter Amalia. By this time, the family had experienced significant geographical changes, having moved to Paris when Millepied accepted the prestigious position of director of dance with the Paris Opera Ballet. However, they later relocated to Los Angeles in 2016, balancing Millepied’s international career opportunities with Portman’s Hollywood commitments.
Career Success and International Living
Throughout their marriage, both Portman and Millepied continued to achieve significant professional success. Portman’s career flourished with critically acclaimed performances in films like Jackie, for which she received another Academy Award nomination, and later projects including May December and the upcoming limited series Lady in the Lake. She also became heavily involved in Angel City, her soccer team investment, demonstrating her commitment to supporting women’s sports.
Natalie Portman (Image via Getty)
Millepied’s career as a choreographer reached new heights during their marriage. Beyond his work with the Paris Opera Ballet, he choreographed major Hollywood productions, including the highly anticipated Dune: Part Two, where he created the signature sand walk sequences that became iconic elements of Denis Villeneuve’s epic. His artistic vision and innovative choreography earned him recognition as one of the leading choreographers working in both ballet and film.
The couple successfully navigated the challenges of maintaining two high-profile careers while raising young children. They were often photographed as a united family at various red carpet events, including the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of Millepied’s directorial effort, Carme,n in September 2022. Their ability to balance professional commitments with family life seemed to exemplify a successful Hollywood marriage.
The Unraveling: Affair Allegations and Separation
The first signs of trouble in Portman and Millepied’s marriage became public in May 2023 when reports surfaced alleging that Millepied had engaged in an extramarital affair. The news was sent through their fan base and the entertainment industry, as the couple had been viewed as one of Hollywood’s more stable marriages.
Following the affair allegations, Portman was notably seen without her wedding ring at public events, including her solo appearances at the Los Angeles premiere of her HBO docuseries Angel City and at the Cannes Film Festival for May December. These public appearances without Millepied suggested that the couple was working through serious marital difficulties.
Sources close to the couple revealed that Millepied was “doing all he can to get Natalie to forgive him and keep their family together,” while Portman’s primary focus remained “protecting her children and their privacy.” The couple attempted to work through their issues privately, maintaining a united front for their children’s sake and appearing together at family events throughout 2023.
Divorce and Moving Forward
Natalie Portman (Image via Getty)
Despite efforts to reconcile, Portman quietly filed for divorce from Millepied in July 2023, approximately eight months before the news became public. The divorce proceedings were conducted in France, where the family had maintained residence, and the dissolution was finalized in February 2024.
The divorce marked the end of their 11-year marriage, though both parents have remained committed to co-parenting their children effectively. Sources close to Portman indicate that while the separation was initially difficult for her, she has emerged stronger with the support of friends and family. “Natalie is coming out of a really tough and painful year but she’s come out the other side of it stronger and is finding joy in her family, friends and work,” a friend revealed.
Currently, Portman focuses on her children, Aleph (now 13) and Amalia (now 8), while continuing her successful acting career. She has spoken about finding excitement in watching her children develop into individuals and spending time with friends and their families. Both parents have prioritized ensuring a smooth transition for their children and maintaining their roles as dedicated co-parents.
The movie Us by Jordan Peele leaves many viewers with plenty to discuss and think about. The ending in particular, raises questions that invite close attention and reflection.
At its core, the conclusion challenges assumptions about identity, society, and the nature of the characters themselves. While some viewers might feel confused or unsettled, the ending is crafted to push the audience to look deeper into the story’s hidden layers.
A chilling mirror moment reveals the deeper connection between doubles (Photo: Us/Universal Pictures, Monkeypaw Productions, and Perfect World Pictures)
When the story reaches its climax, the protagonist Adelaide Wilson faces off against her doppelgänger Red, who represents the dark double version of herself. However, the most striking revelation is that Adelaide’s entire understanding of who she is comes into question.
We learn that the Adelaide we have followed for most of the film is not the original Adelaide but rather the shadowy Red, who swapped places with the real Adelaide when they were children in the underground facility known as The Tethered. This twist forces us to reconsider everything we thought we knew about the characters and their motivations.
The Meaning Behind The Tethered
The Tethered are a group of people living underground, forced to mimic the lives of their surface counterparts without any freedom or purpose. Their existence suggests a dark commentary on social inequality and the unseen suffering hidden beneath society’s surface.
When the Tethered rise up to take control, the film portrays a violent struggle that symbolises a revolt against the conditions that keep people oppressed and ignored.
The identity switch between Adelaide and Red is essential in understanding the film’s message. It blurs the lines between who is the victim and who is the oppressor. Red, initially presented as a villain, turns out to be the one who escaped the underground life and assumed a new identity, living on the surface.
Meanwhile, the original Adelaide, trapped in the underground, represents the displaced and forgotten. This inversion forces viewers to question who deserves sympathy and how circumstances shape individuals.
Symbolism in The Ending
Beyond the identity switch, many details in the ending add layers of symbolism. The recurring motif of hands throughout the film culminates in the final scene, where Adelaide’s reflection does not mirror her movements.
This eerie image suggests that the connection between the characters is deeper and more complex than physical resemblance. It hints at the idea that the Tethered are not simply copies but possess their own consciousness and struggle for autonomy.
The film’s conclusion also uses the burning of the underground facility as a symbol of breaking free from control. However, this destruction comes at a cost, with violence and death marking the path to freedom. The horror element intensifies the grim reality that change often demands sacrifice.
Themes Reflected in The Ending
One important theme highlighted by the conclusion is the question of nature versus nurture. Adelaide and Red’s experiences shaped who they became, rather than any inherent quality.
The Tethered, deprived of a life above ground, were forced into shadows, and their rebellion reflects a yearning for recognition and equality. The ending pushes audiences to think about how environment and experience can influence identity.
The film also examines the fear of the unknown and the darker parts of the self. The mirror image of each character represents internal fears and struggles, showing how people often battle the parts of themselves they hide or deny. By ending with this unsettling image of the reflection, the story suggests that facing one’s shadow self is a necessary but difficult process.
Questions Left Open
Even after the ending, several questions remain open for interpretation. The fate of the other Tethered and how society will respond to their uprising is unclear.
The underground world symbolizes unseen suffering and social injustice (Photo: Us/Universal Pictures, Monkeypaw Productions, and Perfect World Pictures)
The possibility that the cycle of violence and displacement could continue leaves viewers unsettled. However, Adelaide’s true feelings after the revelation are left ambiguous. Does she fully accept her identity as Red, or is she haunted by the past she tried to escape?
Another point for reflection is the fate of Adelaide’s family and how much they understand about the truth. The ending shows that even within a family, secrets and hidden pasts can create distance and fear. This adds emotional depth to the horror, highlighting the personal costs of the characters’ struggle.
The Ending’s Impact on The Audience
The final moments are crafted to stay in the mind long after the credits roll. The disturbing reflection scene challenges viewers to think beyond the surface and question what defines a person’s identity. It also creates a feeling of unease, making it clear that the horror in Us is not only physical but psychological and social.
By not providing a clear resolution, the film respects the complexity of its themes and refuses to offer easy answers. This open-ended approach invites discussion and debate, encouraging viewers to interpret the story in ways that resonate personally.
This movie continues to stand as a powerful example of horror used to develop deeper social and psychological issues. The ending, far from being just a plot twist, becomes a meaningful statement about identity, inequality, and the hidden parts of ourselves.
