Natalie Portman says meeting Rihanna during divorce was 'formative moment'
'Black Swan' star Natalie Portman has reflected on meeting Rihanna during her divorce from ex Benjamin Millepied.
Natalie Portman has described meeting Rihanna as a "formative moment" in her life.
The 43-year-old actress - whose divorce from ex-husband Benjamin Millepied, 47, was finalised in March after 11 years of marriage - met the 'Diamond' hitmaker two months earlier at Paris Fashion Week, and their exchange was "exactly what [she] needed" during her breakup.
On 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon', the host played a video where Rihanna told Natalie she was "one of the hottest b******" in Hollywood".
The ''V For Vendetta' star said: "It was a formative moment in my life."
She added: "I think everyone going through a divorce should get Rihanna to say to her that she's a bad b****. It was exactly what I needed."
She filed for a split from her ex - who she met on the set of 'Black Swan' in 2009 before tying the knot three years later - in July 2023 amid reports from Page Six he had allegedly cheated on her with a then-25-year-old woman named Camille Étienne.
Natalie and Benjamin initially separated in 2022 but worked through their marital issues before their marriage collapsed.
The former couple have two children – son Aleph, 12, and seven-year-old daughter Amalia.
After the divorce was finalised, an insider told People magazine that Natalie is "incredibly private" and that her biggest focus is "protecting the kids".
And a different source told the outlet: "Her biggest priority has been ensuring a smooth transition for her children.
"She and Ben really love their kids and are equally focused on being the best co-parents they can be. Nothing is more important."
Her relationship status has been a source of speculation for years, and the actress previously admitted that she has struggled to deal with the extra attention.
In an interview with Vanity Fair magazine - which was published in February - Natalie said: "It’s terrible, and I have no desire to contribute to it."
