Natalie Portman Opens Up About Her Divorce On 'Jimmy Fallon,' And How An 'Amazing Experience' With Rihanna Helped Her Get Through It

Natalie Portman opened up about her divorce from Benjamin Millepied , which became official earlier this year, during an appearance on The Tonight Show… Starring Jimmy Fallon.

The 43-year-old ever-stylish Oscar-winning actress hasn’t said much about her divorce from the 46-year-old director and choreographer, who she was married to for 11 years and with whom she shares son Aleph, 12, and daughter Amalia, 7, with most of our info coming from inside sources.

Natalie Portman And Benjamin Millepied's Divorce Was Finalized Earlier This Year

According to People , the Thor: Love and Thunder actress filed for divorce back in July 2023, just a few months after rumors of Millepied having an extramarital affair surfaced, and it was finalized in February 2024 in France.

"It was initially really tough for her, but her friends rallied around her and helped get her through the worst of it," an insider shared with the pub, adding: "Natalie is coming out of a really tough and painful year but she's come out the other side of it stronger and is finding joy in her family, friends and work."

Natalie Portman Tells Jimmy Fallon About What Rihanna Told Her Amid Her Divorce

During her appearance on the show, the Black Swan actress explained how an exchange with Rihanna during the Dior Haute Couture show at Paris Fashion Week at the start of the year really helped lift her spirits.

The exchange was captured in a now viral video, which shows the "Umbrella" singer calling the Lady in the Lake star "one of the hottest [expletive] in Hollywood." Rihanna added: "I don't get excited about anybody, but I [expletive] love you."

And the May December actress wasn't the only fan of the exchange, as social media understandably blew up when it was uploaded earlier this year.

"This is my new favorite video of all time," wrote one fan on X at the time. "This literally means so much to me," commented another fan, as a third said: "Two queens coming together for a joint slay."

"It was an amazing experience for me," the No Strings Attached star told Fallon on the show. "I think every woman going through a divorce should get to have Rihanna say to her that she's a bad [expletive.]"

Fallon then stood up and applauded, after which Portman added: "It was exactly what I needed… It was a formative moment in my life."

That's not the only time the Jackie actress spoke about that moment, as she also discussed it on Today, calling it "the confidence boost of a lifetime." Portman went on to tell hosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager at the time: "It was really exactly what I needed at that moment in my life and she served it to me, and I'm forever grateful. I love her."