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Natalie Portman recently shed light on an unexpected source of strength during her divorce. Appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the 43-year-old actress revealed a pivotal moment that occurred during Paris Fashion Week in January. It seems a chance encounter with singer Rihanna offered Portman valuable support during a challenging time.
Portman, who finalized her divorce in February, described the encounter as uplifting.
"I think every woman going through a divorce should get to have Rihanna say to her that she's a bad b–ch. It was exactly what I needed," she told Fallon.
Fallon, acknowledging the significance of Portman's experience, remarked,
"That's a big deal."
To which she replied,
"It was a formative moment in my life."
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Natalie Portman credits Rihanna for support during divorce
The clip Fallon played showed Portman and Rihanna meeting for the first time and greeting each other with a massive hug. Despite having never met before, the two shared a warm and enthusiastic exchange. Portman told Rihanna that she loved her, and the singer responded by saying she was a huge fan of Portman's. In the video, Rihanna told the actress, “You are one of the hottest b–ches in Hollywood forever,” to which Portman replied, “I’m gonna faint.”
Rihanna continued to praise the Black Swan star, saying, “Yo, I don’t get excited about anybody, but I f–king love you.” Portman returned the love, saying, “I love you.” The mutual admiration continued, with Portman expressing her love for Rihanna and her music, calling her a queen, and thanking her for her kindness.
On Monday, July 15, Natalie Portman discussed this interaction on the Today show as well, with hosts Hoda Kotb and guest cohost Justin Sylvester.
“It’s the confidence boost of a lifetime. And it’s exactly what I needed at that moment in my life, and she served it to me, and I’m forever grateful.”
Portman shared a photo on Instagram of the pair hugging, captioning it,
"Still not over this…"
In an April interview with L’Officiel magazine, Natalie Portman described the encounter as "just like a dream." She expressed being a long-time fan of Rihanna and shared that her music held significant personal meaning. Portman recalled feeling excited to meet her and initially planning to simply express her admiration.
“I thought I was just going to go up and tell her that I was a big fan. So it was just a very big compliment that she was so kind to me. It was a very memorable life moment.”
Natalie Portman's divorce from Benjamin Millepied
PEOPLE reported in March that Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied filed for divorce. They were married for 11 years. The couple had quietly separated eight months earlier. Portman, 43, filed for divorce last July. The divorce was eventually granted in February in France. They had been living there with their two children: a thirteen-year-old son, Aleph, and a seven-year-old daughter, Amalia.
In June 2023, a source told PEOPLE that Millepied just made a mistake. An affair with the co-worker during work-related travel was suspected. They reportedly attempted to reconcile and sort out the problems, but later mutually decided to separate.
Natalie Portman was on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to promote her upcoming miniseries, Lady in the Lake. The show is set to air on Apple TV+ on July 19, 2024.
