Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied have separated after 11 years of marriage. The divorce was finalized last month, following rumors of an extramarital affair in June. Portman has been photographed without her wedding ring since then.
“It was initially really tough for her, but her friends rallied around her and helped get her through the worst of it,” a source close to the couple told People. “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.”
First introduced on the set of Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan in 2009, Portman portrayed dancer Nina Sayers, while Millepied performed as David Moreau and choreographed the film’s lengthy dance sequences. Shortly afterward, the couple started dating, and a year later, they were engaged and Portman was expecting their first child.
The couple married in 2012 at a private estate in Big Sur, California, wearing Rodarte and a simple flower garland. Portman shared a rare throwback photo in 2020 to celebrate their eighth wedding anniversary. They have two children, 12-year-old Aleph and 6-year-old Amalia.
In 2011, actress Jennifer Portman won her first Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role in Black Swan, dedicating the award to her love, Benjamin Millepied.
Natalie Portman and Ben Millepied are adjusting to the “new normal” for their two children, focusing on a smooth transition. Despite not publicly commenting on infidelity rumors, Portman expressed distaste for intense interest in her personal life. She has been in the public eye since childhood and values privacy. Portman chose a different name to separate her identities, which she has tried to integrate more as an adult.