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.
18 July 2024
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."
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