Natalie Portman is getting actual about her transfer to Paris — and why she likes it higher than the USA.
“I discover the folks right here are literally extremely pleasant — you simply need to know how you can work together, in order that we’re not those being impolite,” Portman, 43, informed Net-a-Porter in a canopy story launched on Monday, Might 12. “Now, once I return to the U.S., I’m like, ‘Oh,’ I’d go right into a retailer and never say howdy to everybody there? It’s bizarre.”
Elsewhere within the interview, Portman defined that the cultural variations are what result in assumptions about rudeness.
“I feel we’ve got an assumption that western cultures are all the identical – and sort of evened out by all this popular culture that everybody consumes,” the actress defined. “It’s not true: it’s extraordinarily particular right here; and the tradition may be very totally different in each deep and floor methods.”
One factor Portman has observed the French do higher? Boundaries with celebrities.
“They’re excellent at privateness right here,” she gushed. “I really feel like the largest praise is ‘elle est très discrète’ [‘she is very discreet’].”

The actress relocated to France with two children Aleph, 13, and Amalia, 8, whom she shares with ex-husband Benjamin Millepied. (Portman and Millepied finalized their divorce in February 2024. Us Weekly confirmed in March that she had moved on with music producer Tanguy Destable.)
“All the children that come to my home are, like, ‘Bonjour Madame’ — and provides me the bise [cheek-to-cheek kiss]. And earlier than they depart, they’re, like, ‘Thanks for having me’ — and if I’m not close by, they’ll come and discover me to say it,” she added.
Portman has been extra open about discussing her kids following her divorce from Millepied.

“My children are all the time a supply of pleasure, since you simply see them become the people they’re,” she stated throughout an Interview Journal profile printed on April 15. “I’ve been spending a variety of time with my mates, with their children and my children; that’s fairly enjoyable.”
Throughout the identical interview, Portman provided a refined allusion to her ex following their breakup. (It was extensively rumored that Millepied was unfaithful, which is what led to the top of their marriage.)
“Having children, that wasn’t actually my motivation,” she stated, when requested if beginning a household allowed for a “steadiness” between private {and professional} life. “I used to be simply excited to have children, and with an individual that I used to be in love with. However it’s actually vital to have folks in your life who preserve you on the bottom.”