Real reason Natalie Portman quit US to live in France

Natalie Portman as Mighty Thor and Chris Hemsworth as Thor in Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder. Picture: Marvel Studios

Natalie Portman has shed light on her decision to leave the US and move to France, where she is raising her family.

The Oscar winner ditched Los Angeles and moved to Paris when her then-husband Benjamin Millepied accepted a job as the director of the Paris Opera Ballet.

The “Black Swan” actress shares two children, Aleph, 13, and Amalia, 8, with Millepied.

Speaking with Marie Claire, Portman said Paris was “one of the most exciting places to be in the world,” while praising the city’s impressive art scene.

“It’s really central in terms of the arts. It feels like things are happening in L.A., you know?” she said.

“New York is more where art is bought than where art is made.

“When Ben asked me if I wanted to go to Paris, I freaked. Everyone dreams of living in Paris.”

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Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied. Picture: Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

The couple ended up calling it quits after Millepied had an alleged affair with a 25-year-old climate activist named Camille Étienne.

The New York native stayed in Europe following the break-up with Millepied, revealing the Parisians understand her boundaries.

“They’re very good at privacy here,” she told Net-a-Porter.

“I feel like the biggest compliment is ‘elle est très discrète’ [‘she is very discreet’].”

The Hollywood starlet said she also enjoys soaking up all the culture the European city has to offer.

“Even when it’s cold and grey, there’s always some incredible exhibit or concert or dinner party or writers in town; something fascinating and stimulating happening … and the frequent vacations are so clutch!” she said.

The 43-year-old pushed back on a stereotype that Parisians are “rude”, pointing out the “weird” social differences between the US and France.

“I find the people here are actually incredibly friendly – you just have to know how to interact, so that we’re not the ones being rude,” she said.

“Now, when I go back to the US, I’m like, oh, I would go into a store and not say hello to everyone there? It’s weird.”

“I think we have an assumption that Western cultures are all the same, and kind of evened out by all this pop culture that everyone consumes. It’s not true: it’s extremely specific here.”

Natalie Portman as Mighty Thor and Chris Hemsworth as Thor in Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder. Picture: Marvel Studios

However, Portman has not cut all ties with the US.

The “Star Wars” actress retained residence in Los Feliz, Los Angeles she purchased in 2009 for $US3.3 million.

Eight years later, Portman purchased a second California property in Montecito, which she picked up for $US6.5 million in June 2017.

However, she quietly offloaded the home in an off-market deal in 2021 for $US8 million after relocating to France.

According to Realtor, the sale netted the “V for Vendetta” star a tidy profit, with $US1.5 million more than she bought it for.

Portman’s career has continued since she moved to Europe.

The actress racked up numerous credits since she relocated in 2014, including roles in Marvel’s blockbuster “Avengers” series.

She’ll make her next appearance in the Guy Ritchie-directed heist movie, “Fountain of Youth,” in which she stars alongside John Krasinski.

Parts of this story first appeared in Realtor and was republished with permission.

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