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When Natalie Portman and Rihanna’s exchange on the steps of Paris’ Musée Rodin at Dior’s Spring/Summer 2024 Haute Couture collection presentation went viral back in January, we couldn’t have imagined the profound impact it had on the newly single actress.
At the time, the May December star was amid her break up from French dancer and choreographer Benjamin Millepied. The couple, who were married for ten years after meeting on the set of Darren Aronofsky’s award-winning psychological ballet The Black Swan, separated after rumours of Millepied’s alleged infidelity began circulating.
Now, having finalised the divorce in March and on the promotional tour for her upcoming thrilling Apple TV+ series Lady In The Lake, Portman has revealed how profoundly impactful the impromptu encounter actually was. Speaking to The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon, Portman divulged that Rihanna should be every divorcée’s must-have. “It was an amazing experience for me,” she began.
“I think every woman going through a divorce should get to have Rihanna say to her that she’s a bad b****.” Portman continued, telling the comedian that it was exactly what she needed and a “formative moment”.
For the uninitiated, Rihanna offered the highest of compliments to Portman when they first met, with the Grammy Award winner and ultimate bad gal telling the actress she is a “f****** fan”. “You are one of the hottest b****** in Hollywood forever,” she said to Portman’s surprise and delight.
Despite the praise leaving Portman feeling like she was “going to faint” because of how overwhelmingly iconic the chance interaction was, having the support of one of the fiercest women of all time seemingly provided Portman with the strength she didn’t know she needed after her heartache. Women supporting women, we love to see it!
Portman and Millepied made one final appearance together in Sydney attending the final of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Since then, Portman was seen sharing a smoke break with future Gladiator Paul Mescal, demonstrating a high fashion spin on the office siren aesthetic and sartorially emulating her role as the ambassador for the Miss Dior fragrance.
If you too are in need of a little pick me up, watch the hilariously sweet interchange between Natalie Portman and Rihanna, below.
