It’s official! Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied have ended their marriage after 11 years together, as confirmed by People magazine. The actress quietly filed for divorce eight months ago.
The star of films like V for Vendetta and Black Swan filed the lawsuit last June in France, where the former couple lived with their 12 and 7-year-old children. The news was confirmed by a representative of the 42-year-old actress.
The reason behind the separation is said to be an extramarital relationship in May 2023 by Millepied, disclosed by the media.
“At first, it was very difficult for her, but her friends supported her and helped her get through the worst.” “Natalie is coming out of a really tough and painful year, but she has come out stronger and is finding joy in her family, her friends, and her work,” a close friend of the couple told People.
From the beginning, the couple has focused on supporting their children in adapting. They have even been photographed together as a family on numerous occasions over the past year.
Prioritizing Their Kids
“Their top priority has been to ensure a smooth transition for their children.” “She and Ben really love their kids and are equally focused on being the best co-parents possible. Nothing is more important,” says the source.
According to showbiz media, the actress hadn’t been wearing her wedding ring since last spring after news of Millepied’s infidelity emerged. However, the couple took time to resolve issues privately.
In February of this year, Vanity Fair magazine asked Portman about rumors surrounding her marriage: “Leading up to this film’s release, people were writing about your marriage and personal life in a very public way. How is that?” asked the reporter.
To which the star replied, “It’s terrible, and I have no desire to contribute to it.”
“I don’t love asking about it either,” the interviewer responded.
And the actress concluded with: “I can imagine.”
Love Sparks During Black Swan Shoot
Portman and Millepied met in 2009 during the filming of the movie Black Swan, where he was in charge of choreography. After two years together and having conceived their first child, the couple married in 2012 in a very intimate ceremony on the California coast under the Jewish rite practiced by Portman.
In 2017, they welcomed their second daughter. The couple was one of the most stable in Hollywood.
Now the couple is focused on their next chapter.
“Natalie hoped her marriage would last forever,” says the friend, who adds, “but she is at peace with where they are and is now focused on their new normalcy as a family,” People reports.
