Almost a year ago exactly, Natalie Portman’s husband Benjamin Millepied’s affair with a young French woman was outed by a French tabloid. The tabloid had photos of Benjamin and a then-25-year-old Camilla Etienne coming and going from their nid d’amour. What we didn’t know at the time was that Natalie quietly filed for divorce soon after the affair story became public. The divorce was quickly finalized earlier this year and Natalie has still, to this day, barely addressed any of it publicly. I would imagine there will be a Vanity Fair or Vogue cover interview at some point, but right now, she’s moving like a shark.
Well, something interesting is happening now. Late last year, Variety paired Natalie with Paul Mescal for the trade paper’s Actors-on-Actors series. Paul and Natalie got along really well and they were full of praise for each other as actors. Crash cut to this week, and Natalie and Paul were seen together at Bar 69 in London. They stepped outside of the bar to smoke, and they seemed downright giddy in each other’s company. According to IMDB, Natalie is currently in production on Guy Ritchie’s Fountain of Youth… a film which does not include Mescal, but it might explain why Natalie is at a random bar in London on Tuesday in May. So… is this happening? Mescal is reportedly single too, his relationship with Phoebe Bridgers wound down a while ago. Hm.
Newly-single Natalie Portman, 42, looks giddy with Paul Mescal, 28, as they get the giggles while enjoying a smoke outside a London bar… weeks after finalising divorce from Benjamin Millepied amid affair rumours https://t.co/p7pFyBuXUu pic.twitter.com/gltjaT4XZ7
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) May 30, 2024
Paul Mescal & Natalie Portman in London. pic.twitter.com/rM1evzSNxn
— cinesthetic. (@TheCinesthetic) May 30, 2024
Natalie Portman and Paul Mescal can't stop gushing over each other during their Actors on Actors conversation. https://t.co/0h4orwCzRq pic.twitter.com/fLDGvaWoXz
— Variety (@Variety) December 12, 2023
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.
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- Natalie Portman bei der Verleihung der 81. Golden Globe Awards im Beverly Hilton Hotel. Beverly Hills, 07.01.2024 *** Natalie Portman at the 81 Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel Beverly Hills, 07 01 2024 Foto:xJ.xBlocx/xFuturexImagex globes_2024_4246,Image: 835167797, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: imago is entitled to issue a simple usage license at the time of provision. Personality and trademark rights as well as copyright laws regarding art-works shown must be observed. Commercial use at your own risk., Model Release: no, Credit line: IMAGO/Jennifer Bloc / Avalon
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- Natalie Portman arrives at the 14th Governors Awards in the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood on Tuesday, January 9, 2024,Image: 836568082, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: Trae Patton / @ A.M.P.A.S / Avalon
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- Paul Mescal arriving at the 2024 EE BAFTA Film Awards on Sunday 18 February 2024 at Royal Festival Hall, London. .,Image: 848130053, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: World Rights – Julie Edwards/Avalon.Red, Model Release: no, Credit line: Julie Edwards. / Avalon
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- Paul Mescal at the British Academy Film Awards 2024 at the Royal Festival Hall in Waterloo, London, United Kingdom on 18 February 2024.,Image: 848752589, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Cat Morley / Avalon
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- SANTA MONICA, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – FEBRUARY 25: Natalie Portman wearing a Balmain dress, Jimmy Choo shoes, and Nouvel Heritage jewelry arrives at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards (39th Annual Film Independent Spirit Awards) held at the Santa Monica Beach on February 25, 2024 in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 850980374, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Natalie Portman, Credit line: Image Press Agency / Image Press Agency / Avalon
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- Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2024 – Gucci – Arrivals Featuring: Paul Mescal Where: Milan, Italy When: 22 Sep 2023 Credit: IPA/INSTARimages **UK, USA AND AUSTRALIA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- Celebrities at the ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ studios Featuring: Paul Mescal Where: Los Angeles, California, United States When: 16 Nov 2023 Credit: BauerGriffin/INSTARimages
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- Celebrities attend the Christian Dior Womenswear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 show as part of Paris Fashion Week in Paris, France Featuring: Natalie Portman Where: Paris, France When: 27 Feb 2024 Credit: Laurent Zabulon/Abaca Press/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
So, Natalie is going for budget Hugh Dancy? And is a smoker? I didn’t know that…
also, “nid d’amour” CACKLING
“Budget Hugh Dancy”…no disrespect to Hugh Dancy but Paul Mescal has already been nominated for an Academy Award and several BAFTAs and he’s only been acting since 2020. I think he’s well beyond Hugh Dancy at this point. You may not like him, but he’s a significant actor.
[insert gif of Pam Beasley holding a sign that says HOT]
I can’t believe she smokes! Well, I can, so many people use it to keep their weight down. He’s cute, hope she’s having some fun.
I just get so grossed out every time I see someone smoking. Why does anyone want to smell like that? Especially when you have kids? It’s like that pic from the Oscars with Kirsten Dunst and everyone smoking. That smell is just so gross.
I think it’s official, Natalie Portman actually is a vampire. There’s no way you can smoke and still have skin like that otherwise.
Some former smokers still spark up a beak once in a while with a drink. Don’t smoke at all for weeks then go for drinks, have a few smokes and then don’t smoke again for weeks or months. Could be that.
agree. my mom smoked a couple times a year with her sisters. it’s still weird to see. i live in one of those areas where you just don’t see too many smoking.
2nd. I remember a colleague during my IT days who only had (1) cigarette w/ a glass of wine. In the 6years I worked w/ her, she never left her desk to go outside for a smoke break.
.
She also had this uncanny ability to maintain boundaries & never get roped into ancillary projects or emergencies, while remaining respected & well-liked. I’ve often wondered if all those traits were linked.
That was me. I didn’t smoke much at all, but when I did, it was when I was out for drinks with friends – beer in one hand, cigarette in the other. When NYC banned smoking indoors (including bars and restaurants), I stopped smoking altogether.
In addition to weight management, smoking is also a device to get an actor’s voice to a deeper register required for stage work. Critics wrote Vivien Leigh’s voice was “too thin & reedy” during the touring of Romeo & Juliette which followed the release of GWTW–where her voice is much lighter than in her later film work. Lauren Bacall was also said to have a high/thin voice & to work on it before she was cast in her first film. See also, Daniel Radcliffe; Benedict Cumberbatch in 2003 “Fortysomething” compared to “Sherlock”
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During the press junket for Black Swan, Natalie mentioned working on stage w/ director Mike Nichols [The Seagull?], saying he ordered her to “get rid of that little girl voice”. I believe it was right before or during her Harvard years. Other print media suggested she’s been smoking on the down-low since her undergrad days, mostly likely because it doesn’t play well w/ her profile as a vegetarian.
I had a friend who lost his radio job when he quit smoking. This was a million years ago but I’ll never forget it. He still had a great voice but even I thought it lost a little edge when he quit smoking. Luckily for him, it forced him in a new direction and he did super well.
Also she lives/lived in France and it’s still very much a smoking culture.
Also GET IT girl! I actually really see them together. She looks great and he looks into it.
He’s cute. I would if I were her.
Came to say just that: I’d hit it 😛 He is delightfully relaxed in his BDE.
This is the first time I’ve ever seen/heard him, but he reminds me a bit of Pedro.
@bettyrose If you read and liked Normal People… scratch that.. Watch Normal People. :)))
well they do look hot together. he seems to be a f*ckboy if rumors are to be believed, so maybe they’re hooking up.
First time I hear of that. Where did you read such a thing?
It is so funny to me that Paul is getting all this attention. Any Irish town will have a few lads who look just like him. :))
I first saw him as the airheaded son from a sausage ad – https://youtu.be/alVbyTgJ828?si=ronhnhJHOOFxxQlD
I agree, he doesn’t do it for me. I felt the same about Matt Damon when he hit it big — go to any frat house in America and you’ll see guys who look just like him. But I absolutely respect Mescal’s talent. That commercial is great!
Absolutely LOVE this rebound choice for her. Sexy.
Yes sexy rebound choice, but NO to her choice of dress in that first pic. I love roses, but nooooo to that dress.
I agree, that dress is a big no for me too.
Dior is still doing the rose-boobs, or is this a vintage re-design/re-wear? I thought they would have learned their lesson after Charlize Theron’s 2010 Oscar dress was lampooned. “My eyes are up *here*”
He’s so talented and generous, on top of being hot.
Who still smokes, in this day and age?
They all smoke! It’s one of the ways to keep slim.
I’m amazed how many people still do.
She looks amazing, (minus the smoking part) go get you a younger man and have the time of your life!
I’m here for this.
They’ve known each other for a while. Paul was one of the stars of her ex husbands movie Carmen.
He’s not my type but I totally understand why someone leaving a long marriage wants to have a fling with a younger man, lol, get that ass, Natalie
Can’t two attractive actors just enjoy a smoke without be shipped off to lover’s island? Although if true, I wholly support this union – but for a limited time only!!
GET IT, girl. Paul is talented and (as far as one can tell from press) decent.
She should totally go for it. The ex-husband hooked up with someone in her 20s. Why shouldn’t Natalie be able to?
We women should start a movement. Disregard all the men our age and older and just go for the younger ones! We have to organize! 🙂
They could just be friends, or they could be having fun that could grow into something more. Either way, I wish her good luck and hope she learned the lesson she needed to from her last relationship choice. She actually handled her divorce exactly as she should have, quietly and without giving her idiot ex the undue attention he wanted.
Ok, this may sound a touch creepy, but I love how she has regular old underwear lines in that back shot. Just seems so … normal.
I hope she dates a lot of hot guys and has a lot of fun.