Natalie Portman Involved, 'Adulterous' Husband Ultimately...

2010 Film 'Black Swan' Ballet Coaching Connection
Portman's Husband Had Affair Last Year with 20s Environmental Activist

Actress Natalie Portman (42), famous for movies such as 'L?on' and 'Black Swan,' has divorced French choreographer Benjamin Millepied (46) after 11 years of marriage.

On the 8th (local time), US NBC News and entertainment media People reported this citing a statement from Portman's spokesperson. Portman's spokesperson said that Portman filed for divorce in France last July, and the divorce process was finalized last month. People explained that the couple's relationship deteriorated irreparably after reports of Millepied's affair surfaced in May last year.

Natalie Portman (right) and Benjamin Millepied attending the 2020 Academy Awards
Photo by AFP Yonhap News

Portman met choreographer Millepied while filming the 2010 movie 'Black Swan.' In 'Black Swan,' Portman played a schizophrenic ballerina, and Millepied taught her ballet, bringing them closer. They got engaged in 2010 and married in August 2012 in Big Sur, California. The couple had been living in France and have two children: son Aleph (12) and daughter Amalia (7).

Millepied's affair partner is known to be environmental activist Camille ?tienne (25). ?tienne is a friend of famous environmental activist Greta Thunberg and participated in producing environmental short films. Portman reportedly learned of her husband's affair in March last year, and Millepied was publicly criticized after photos showed him entering and leaving ?tienne's office building. At the time, a Portman representative stated, "Portman's greatest concern is protecting the children," and local media quoted sources close to the couple saying, "Millepied is doing everything to be forgiven by Portman" and "He loves Portman and his family." However, the couple ultimately could not reconcile and ended their marriage.

Portman, originally from Israel, gained worldwide fame with the success of the movie 'L?on,' in which she starred as the lead role 'Mathilda' at age 13, and won the Academy Award for Best Actress for 'Black Swan.' Millepied, who had made a name for himself as a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, later achieved great success as a choreographer and returned to France in 2014 to serve as the artistic director of the Paris Opera Ballet.