So Natalie Portman completely shocked everybody on Monday when she announced her pregnancy and engagement to People Magazine. It was just a brief confirmation, and hours later, Natalie gave her personal statement to Entertainment Weekly. In that statement, she described herself as “indescribably happy” and she also managed to emphasize her “privacy”. It’s an interesting hat-trick, announcing your pregnancy and engagement while simultaneously campaigning for an Oscar, promoting several movies, and attempting to be “private”. I said yesterday that I was looking forward to seeing how all of this would play out, and I didn’t have to wait long for the first chapter. It seems that while Natalie isn’t giving some gushy, famewhore-y, LeAnn Rimes-esque interview and posing with her ass and ring out, Natalie’s baby-daddy Benjamin Millepied has no problems getting a little press for himself. Benjamin just gave an interview to People Magazine so that we can get to him a little bit better:
He may be engaged to one of the season’s most buzzed-about movie stars but Natalie Portman’s new fiancé, Benjamin Millepied, is a superstar in his own right in the world of ballet.
Born in Bordeaux, France, to a decathlete father and a dance teacher mother, the principal dancer with the prestigious New York City Ballet was inspired as a child by Mikhail Baryshnikov in White Nights.
But Millepied, 33, took his role as Portman’s dance partner in Black Swan (which he also choreographed) because he admired Director Darren Aronofsky’s work, and because he was certain “that I wasn’t going into another sort of average, uninteresting dance film.”
Here are five more things to know about Portman’s groom-to-be – and the future father her child:
1. It’s in His Name
Perhaps he was destined to dance? The name “Millepied” roughly means “a thousand feet” in French and it is reportedly not a stage name. Portman, on the other hand, was born Natalie Hershlag.2. He Choreographs in the Kitchen
“I love to cook,” Millepied tells PEOPLE. “Nowadays I actually cook Italian-style food more than French heavy sauces. I make a good salad, some great roasted vegetables, grilled fish. I’m crazy about L.A. because at the farmers’ market you find all kinds of wild mushrooms.”3. He’s on the Drum Beat
Millepied’s family moved to Dakar, Senegal, for a brief period when he was a child. “We lived next to this really famous family of drummers,” he has said, “so I played the drums seriously until I was 12 or 13 [years old].”4. He’s Also a Director
“I just co-directed a French film in Paris with the actress Lea Seydoux (Inglorious Basterds) and I’m actually in it with her,” he says of the film Time Doesn’t Stand Still. “There’s one dance in it but it’s not really a dance film.”5. He Proves the Uptight Ballet Dancer Is Just a Stereotype
“They are really normal and fun and outgoing people,” he says of his colleagues in dance. “Especially the new generation. The technical level is higher than it’s ever been and they’re as dedicated as ever. But they are people who know how to have a good time, that’s for sure.”
[From People]
Did anyone else read this and think back to that story from Page Six about how Benjamin is an obsessed social-climber who dumped his live-in girlfriend as soon as Natalie threw him her seductive bitchface? Yeah… it’s interesting. As I’ve said before, I wish them well, and I hope Natalie has a safe and healthy pregnancy, and I also think she’s now the lead in her Oscar race, and good for her. BUT – Benjamin seems like he’s trading on his connection to Natalie to build himself a little career, right? Maybe it will all work out. Maybe not.
Photos courtesy of WENN and Fame. B&W photo courtesy of The Observer.
She was a fool to get knocked up so soon into the relationship. He broke up with his gf to be with portman so that alone is somthing very telling. Now if hes capable of doing that for a career move he is capable to doing anything.
Ugh…nothing worse than a thousand feet of famewhore.
hmm… cant wait for the divorce, it will be epic
*sips some vodka*
edit: so is this guy natalie kevin federline
Kaiser: This is just an educated guess, but I’m thinking this isn’t a new interview that Millepied did with People. People’s website has been known to do “5 things to know” features when a celeb gets engaged to somebody who’s less known in the celeb world or whenever somebody less known in the celeb world makes the news. They usually dig back into whatever they can find. Like when Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher got engaged in 2009 they actually recycled stuff from a 2003 interview he’d done with a local paper. There’ve been other examples where they’ve dug up quotes from earlier People features and acted like they were new.
I’d bet $$ in this case that the quotes from Millepied are from an earlier red carpet interview or from a sitdown they did to promote Black Swan before People knew about the engagement and Natalie’s pregnancy. If it was a new interview there’s no way People would’ve let him escape without comment on fatherhood and his engagement to Natalie. Don’t you think?
Saw the movie and it was a bit confusing. I did notice him in it and he looks nothing like he did in the movie. Maybe its the beard.
Oh Natalie, where’s Leon when you need him.
@Bite me you been sipping on that vodka for a couple of days now, don’t bogart the bottle please. Let the Grey Goose fly and don’t forget the ice!
I bet he was poking holes in the condoms.
Hahaha Brin!
I do think it was kind of a mistake to get pregnant so early in the relationship, but who knows? No one has a formula for these things. I wish them the best. And if it doesn’t turn out that way… well, more for the site, right?
I bet he was poking holes in the condoms.
LOL!
Seriously though, that’s a really valid theory.
Interesting combo of personalities; he and Natalie. It may be insecurity as much as famewhore-ism that is propelling his new chattiness. This man IS a star in his own right-principal dancer for the NYC Ballet is no small feat. (God, I can’t help but make puns with this guy). At least they aren’t both actors-can you say direct competition?
Good that he is a choreographer, too. Ballet is brutal on women especially; not so great on men either.
C’mon-give the man of many feet a chance!
he likes to cook & natalie so reminds me of giada sooo…are they any pics of him in tights? J.K.!
between kaiser & dlisted & my obvious boredom…i’m afraid my hub & son will soon ban me from all internet usage with parental controls.
Wow, poking holes in the condom. Never even crossed my mind. Hilarious.
I’ve gotten to the point where whatever I read in People magazine is immediately categorized as Lying douche propaganda. I thinks I dun’t likem.
stronzilla, am freezing my tits off in central florida, am not trying my vodka
I bet sex is fantastic, so Natalie could have just forgotten everything one night 🙂 no need to poke holes 😉
While I personally think they are moving quickly on the pregnancy and engagement front, and they certainly got together under questionable circumstances, I agree with flutters on People and its “5 things to know” feature.
We have been so conditioned to believe conspiracy and look for the negative that I find it’s getting to the point where people make that assumption right off the bat. Just because People can sometimes be a celeb’s mouthpiece, doesn’t mean that it is beyond the typical tabloid and celeb media trickery and “unnamed sources” etc. Outside of a Page 6 report on his alleged social climbing we have no reason to think this of him. IF this People interview turns out to be new, then sure, it’s certainly suspect given Portman’s privacy protestations. But there is nothing to suggest this is the case here.
And as for the the idea some have raised about this pregnancy helping her Oscar chances, the only way we could fault her here is if she literally plotted to get pregnant at this time for that reason. The announcement to me is nothing to fault her on – let’s face it, it’s not like she can hide a pregnancy through award’s season. She is likely over the 3 month mark, and the Globes are only a couple of weeks away. She is probably already showing and given she would be dress hunting this info was likely close to getting out there since designers and stylists and their assistants would be aware. If she had really wanted to maximize exposure she would have talked about it during the Black Swan promotion and not dropped it during the holiday period when most people are otherwise distracted. Now whether or not the Academy votes for her as a result – that says more about those voters than it does Portman.
Natalie comes across as a control freak, so I’m saying she purposely went off whatever BC she was using. Also, I don’t think she’d tolerate a man that doesn’t know his place in the pecking order.
I think being pregnant by a Principal Dancer in the NYC ballet is just the sort of artistic spouse Natters could ever want, likely since the male aristocrats didn’t want her and William is no longer single.
Well doesnt he just look like nothing but a dancer. To a tee, that physique…. Reminds me of Mango- or Chris Kattan.
The movie he “just co-directed” was listed as in production on imdb just a month ago so this interview is recent. At least this part where he talks about this movie.
something is off about him. it seems very quick to get pregnant too.
I get the same douche vibes from him that I get from Ryan Reynolds.
He likes to cook grilled fish…hmmm…not anymore…
These two look very well-matched to me. It could have been love at first sight which I absolutely believe in & am living proof of. Is he a social climber?? Given the position he is in, I would say absolutely. He’s been one all along.
Oh lord. As soon as I saw “Hes also a director” I thought…KFED. Im betting there will be a project where he will direct natalie for something and it will suck. I mean..maybe he does really love her but you can’t tell me that he isnt thinking of the doors she can open.
That interview makes him sound as insufferable as her. They’re both very talented people, but their mutual narcissism is pretty mind-numbing at this point.
Geez, imagine living in a house with those two. Poor kid.
@bite me… I am in Central Florida too.. been drinking and huddling around fires for days… Where is the heat????
I say give the bunch o tiny dancing feet a chance, he might be perfect for her.
I’m getting douche vibes too and think this relationship will not last. But Natalie will probably stay with him for the image a la Goopy/Chris Martin
I’ll bet her parents are in shock–esp. about the pregnancy. I like her and think she does good work, but I don’t think this marriage will last. And who knows how ugly the divorce will get?
Douche vibes. I give them about a year.
@albeli–Ditto on the douche vibes. Picture the red carpet on Oscar night: he’ll be on her arm, she’ll be sporting a baby bump, and the Oscar will go to…
Annette Bening, with ailing Warren Beatty on HER arm.
@bite me & Johnny Depp’s Girl – me too! Slowly warming up here…but still would like to join in the drinking! LOL
The Voters at the Motion picture academy have done stupid crap so many times it’s not funny. if a pregnancy gets natalie an oscar nomination and worse yet a win they’ve gone down hill fast and or it’s changed so much that it’s almost unrecognizable. for example in the 50’s an out of wedlock pregnancy and in wedlock miscarriage if it got out could make the actress lose her nomination or forfeit the award if she won it. that’s why 20th century fox andWarner brohters covering up the scenario with Joanne Woodward in 1958 when shewon best actress worked in her favor. of course she’s head and shoulders above Natalie acting wise even now at nearly 81 years old. and the fact that most everyone thats still alive that has worked with her on film still gush about her when asked in interviews few actors are uniformally respected like that and Nat ain’t going to be one of them.
LOL! In that last pic she looks like she’s gritting her teach and saying, “didn’t I already tell you NOT to speak to me in public?!”
I think she wanted a baby, and figured he was good genetic material – gives her genuine artistic cred, too. I give the relationship 3 years.
I agree with Kaiser…if he wanted to remain private, he would have kept his mouth shut. This leads me to believe he is a social climber, especially after leaving his girlfriend for NP.
What great press and PR for him.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!
Just to confirm my point about People having a routine of doing “Five Things To Know” features when celebs get engaged to people less known to the celeb world they just posted a “Five Things To Know” about Reese’s now fiance, Jim Toth, with old information and quotes:
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20453573,00.html
We have been so conditioned to believe conspiracy and look for the negative that I find it’s getting to the point where people make that assumption right off the bat.
@Anon Haha, the irony is that I’m a full blown conspiracy theorist when it comes to what shows up in the gossip pages. I believe the majority is either planted by a celeb’s publicist or planted by a rival’s publicist. As far as the Page Six coverage of this relationship, I suspect Page Six is getting information from either a rival of Millepied’s in the ballet world (maybe bitter about his increased prominence) or a friend of his ex.
Does that mean the homewrecker and social climber assertions are true or untrue? I don’t know, it just means there’s an agenda there and spin involved. The social climber thing is a matter of interpretation and spin anyway. For all we know Natalie and Millepied are well matched because they’re both ambitious. I do think there’s some “artistic temperament” going on and that usually leads to enemies made.
I’m not even really a fan of Natalie Portman’s. But circumstantially there are things about the gossip items that make me suspicious. When I think about how competitive the world of dance is and how competitive and nasty Oscar campaigns can get, it makes me feel like there are some rival agendas influencing the gossip. That having been said, I’m sure Natalie’s people have their strategy to counteract that mapped out. It looks like they’re going to present her as taking the high and private road, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw a few leaks from “sources close to” here and there to help her out.
I bet he was poking holes in the condoms.
I bet he did! IN THIS ECONOMY everybody could use a little job security. . .
@Stronzilla: where’s Leon when you need him
oh, what woman hasn’t asked herself that question.
Flutters – While I agree that we don’t know if Benjamin did the interview with People a few weeks ago, perhaps as a way to promote Black Swan, or if he did it concurrently with Natalie’s announcement, I don’t think that Toth piece proves your point – People Mag was summarizing from other sources and unnamed quotes. In this Millepied piece, HE SPOKE TO THEM. He gave them an interview. Toth didn’t.
But, yes, it could totally have been done a few weeks ago.
Also, while I don’t think Natalie out-right got pregnant for the sake of her Oscar campaign, I think she’s going to use her pregnancy to her advantage for the campaign.
“Haha, the irony is that I’m a full blown conspiracy theorist when it comes to what shows up in the gossip pages. I believe the majority is either planted by a celeb’s publicist or planted by a rival’s publicist.”
@flutters: I don’t disagree with you that there “is an agenda there or spin involved” – but that’s true for every single piece of celebrity gossip we hear, pretty much. I’m definitely one to buy into the conspiracy theory idea myself, it’s just I don’t start from that assumption without something more substantial. And that’s what I mean by people now being too quick to believe the worst, even from unreliable sources. It’s like there is never the possibility anymore that a couple might split without drama and blame, or a story could be reported in a tab without being planted there by a publicist. The latter may be true the majority of the time, but these mags still need to fill pages and give reports on the stars that draw the most interest, so sometimes they are the ones themselves that are the “source” for their pieces and they are entirely without agenda for the star in question.
I feel sorry for this fetus. Already been exploited for fame. sigh.
OMG He choreographed the Black Swan? OMG I am so obsessed with that movie, seen it like 6 times already. Wow I am quite impressed with him after reading this. Natalie is a very lucky girl. He cooks which is lovely, I am sure she enjoys his roasted veggies. Yum. Wow and he is French. Plus cute as hell.
Awwwww I refuse to give any negative thoughts to this relationship because I like Nat and this is a big year for her career because she is so gonna win an Oscar and nobody deserves negativity during such an awesome time in career and her persona life.
why is she holding a copy of Lolita in her hands? You’re too old to play Lolita, Natalie.
He’s a famous dancer so giving an interview is no big deal doesn’t make him a famewhore, the only difference now is he knocked up Natalie Portman which makes everything he says newsworthy.
I have everything crossed hoping the oscar goes to jennifer lawrence.
Eh. I think he’s a famewhore.
But can’t lie, he has sexy arms 🙂 Best wishes to them, though it likely won’t last..
@Kaiser You’re right about the difference between the Toth and Millepied “Five Things” features. I should’ve been more clear that I didn’t think the Toth feature proved the Millepied interview was old, I was just saying the timing of the features was typical.
Thanks to N.D. for being able to narrow it down so at least we know it wasn’t an interview done months ago. I just have a hard time believing People would have a fresh, post-engagement/pregnancy announcement interview with the partner of one of this Oscar season’s most buzzed about stars and not tag it with a huge headline about Natalie Portman’s fiance opening up in an exclusive.
they are gorgeous together.
his wide range of things he is interested in makes me suspicious. he reminds me of that woman on millionaire matchmaker who was an actress/model/promoter/host/lifestyle consultant/baker/ and liked dance/surfing/snowboarding/skiing/workingout/ and she was an egomaniac freak. he seems like a nice enough guy, but time will tell. dancers are a super weird bunch, but they share some of the same traits as actors, so maybe it will work out. she is pretty down to earth and undramatic, so I dont think this was some sort of passionate accident that she is rushing into. or maybe she is following her character in the movie and art becomes life becomes art becomes life!
33? He looks much older than 33. Maybe its the balding hair? I don’t see these 2 lasting.
Herschlag?
There have been many interview with Millepied in the NY papers over the years because he is a principal dancer of the ballet!! There was also an interview and many photos of him in Details a few months ago. I don’t understand why, all of a sudden, people think he’s some unknown, brokeass nobody who just popped out of the woodwork and got a famous star pregnant!! Seriously people!! He isn’t KFed the backup dancer!!
Also, Natalie has had many, MANY boyfriends over the years who have not been internationally famous. Perhaps this time she fell in love and wanted to get pregnant. It’s not like the woman is 18 and living with her parents (they live in Israel); she is 29 years old and should know what the heck she wants in life and how to get it.
Forgive the rant but, seriously!! It’s so annoying that some people talk as if they KNOW this young woman and what she thinks and feels. I wish them the best and a long happy life together. And if it doesn’t work out then, oh well . . .
Herschlag?
———————————————————
Portman is either her grandmother’s maiden name or her grandparents’ last name. Can’t remember. She was born in Israel.
Maybe that has been a look of worry on her face what she should do or is she making a mistake. I hope this guy is not a user or a-hole because this has moved very quickly since last Jan.(when they were filming). I hadn’t seen a baby bump so she is probably not that far along.
Well I actually think Miss Natalie “oh so perfect” Portman has found somebody who can play at her level. Not so sure it’s a good thing though LOL
HE LOOKS LIKE A LOSER (USER?) TO ME, BUT THE ONLY PERSON WHO REALLY KNOWS HIM, IS THE GIRLFRIEND THAT HE JUST DUMPED FOR NATALIE. PURE AND SIMPLE, THE SEX IS GREAT. BUT WE ALL KNOW, IT’S NEVER AS GOOD AS THE FIRST TIME.
Cheaters suck, really a lot. If he cheated with her, He will cheat on her. Early and often, because that’s what cheaters do. They don’t love anyone but themselves. And to the disillusioned idiots who think they are so special as to make them stop, it’s all the more funny when they are wrong!
He looks older than 33.
She looks like she is taking a dump in the black dress photo.
I hope he doesn’t dump her ass at a Wal-Mart and takes off when she’s months along down the road,lol j/k
I think the awards season publicity will be the test for him – if he continues to talk, he’s looking for fame.
When did the two of them get together? The movie filmed about a year ago, so it’s not like they just met last week.
I finally was able to see the film – she was FANTASTIC in it. If she wins an Oscar for it, I think it will be well deserved.
The break up will be epic. Poor kid!
Courtney do you suffer from some sort of tourettes in which you have to blurt out irrelevant old school Hollywood facts in every comment, whilst trying to make a tenuous link to the current blog post?
I always get a raised eyebrow when a celeb who usually shares nothing about their personal life suddenly starts yelling at the top of their lungs and jumping off of couches.
@Courtney:
Getting pregnant has never one anyone a sympathy vote. Sure it had a stigma in the 50s but using your reasoning it would be like someone getting a sympathy vote because they ate a ham sandwich for lunch.
Yeah, this doesn’t really read like a ‘sit down’ interview with People, it reads more like a bunch of random Millipied quotes cobbled together at the last minute. I don’t think we can label him as a famewhore JUST yet.
Also, I can’t wait to see The Black Swan when it arrives here – the trailer looks awesome.
Total. Fame. Vampire.
When Federline was around he said he might do charity “because it’s part of the role,” like he married a senator or something. Instead he tried to rap and act.
With this guy it’s already 5 interesting facts about HIM and interviews calling him already a superstar? Neon sign this guy is nice to look at but bad news for Natalie.
If I were her I’d start foot dragging about the wedding. The pre-nup would have a new anti-famewhore clause. Then I’d just scramble looking into the possibility of time travel to undo the whole hookup.
He’s short? He only looks a few inches taller than her, and she’s so petite. I thought he was at least a 6 footer. If he’s short he’s not even all that hot.
Natalie has always seemed like she has a good head on her shoulders so I don’t think she would ever let some famewhore take advantage of her like that. I do actually think this marriage will end in divorce, but I give them 5 years (a lifetime in hollywood).
She certainly fits the Oscar winner profile. It’s always some pretty, popular young actress who’s no great shakes as an actress but likeable. Then she has one big breakthrough role – almost always involving changing the way they look – and bam! they get the award. Can we say Halle Berry, Charlize Theron, Julia Roberts, Sandra Bullock, Reese Witherspoon . . . ad nauseum?
Every year I end up pissed come Oscar night. Looks like this year may be the same old popularity contest, talent be damned.
I may be naive-okay, I’m naive. But I feel like she announced because she is about to do a lot of press and is starting to show. I think it’s nice she just let everyone know instead of making people speculate.
However things turn out they do make a striking couple imo, bitch face aside I like her.
Herchlag is her real last name she had changed it but not offically- portman is her alias. She still goes by her Jewish name escept for cinema.
The Lolita book is a purse. A woman started making clever little clutches out of old books awhile ago. V v cute concept especially for a booklover. They are not v expensive & you can even provide the book to be converted
@Camille: Happy New Year Matey!!!(is it already Friday?) not sure but in case I am not on later or you’re celebrating 🙂
1999 they showed New Year Celebrations around the world, I wish they did it every year. Happy New Year to Celebitchy for this lovely web site. Thank you. Happy New Year to all the posters too 🙂
Marriage fail. Divorced in 1yr or 2 is the only question.
I don’t know, there’s something I don’t like about this guy. I guess the fact that I read that weird article about his being ‘obsessed’ with her on the set of Black Swan has tainted me opinion.
I could be totally wrong, but for some reason this article just seemed like one big attempt to draw attention to *himself*. He doesn’t say ANYTHING about Natalie, when you’d think the main thing people would want to hear from him about would be his relationship with her.
ALL he talks about is himself. He’s a SUPER star in his own right…He’s NOT stuck up, he knows how to have fun, he’s a great cook, used to be a serious drummer, is a DIRECTOR (who appeared in said film), blah blah blah.
Strikes me as someone who won’t be satisfied to just be known as ‘Mr. Natalie Portman’.
And am I the only one who can’t help but think of “Millipede” (when I see his name), as in… the gross bug with tons of legs? Now I continuously associate him with that bug every time I see his name.
In the second photo up top, he really looks like Simon Atlee (model petra nemkova’s bf who died during the tsunami in sri lanka). If you google a picture of him and compare them, they could be twins.
Working on a production together, especially one this intense, is always intoxicating and bonding. Plus, she was probably sick of commitment-phobe boyfriends past (Gael Garcia Bernal, etc.).
Still, I think he will get on her nerves in the long run. He has crazy eyes. Kneejerk assumption: he looks possessive, needy and potentially controlling.
On the other hand, Candace Bushnell has been very happy with her ballet dancer beau for years. Let’s hope for Natalie that they’re a reliable husband type!
This guy is like Swizz Beatz with Alicia Keys. They abandon their wives and girlfriends for higher status women, get their more famous girlfriends pregnant and then, post pregnancy, get them to marry them in order to secure their new social position. But the women go along with it so they must be confident that their husband will never leave them because the guy will never find anybody more famous who wants to be with them. It, also, reminds me of Julia Roberts and her husband and the Leann Rimes situation. So basically men will just drop their wives and kids if a rich, famous women says so. And then they seal the situation with a baby. Countdown starts for when Leann and Eddie get pregnant. I’m surprised they aren’t already. This is, also what happened with Brad and Angelina. Jennifer was famous, but Angie was more famous, and like Swizz Beatz/Alicia Keys and Natalie/Ballet Guy they sealed the deal with a baby pronto.
She’s a harvard grad, surely she’d know about birthcontrol or at least a condom…I think she wanted to trap him and he’s so into her being a famewhore and all that it just clicked for them. I give their marriage two years….remind me to go to vegas on this one…i could have won the johanson/reynolds joke damn it!