Natalie Portman

Portman joined several hundred film industry figures in an open letter denouncing pressure and calls for a boycott targeting dissident Israeli director Nadav Lapid at FID Marseille. The letter defended the principle that an artist should not be reduced to their nationality or held accountable for the actions of their government.

State of the evidence

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Directly implicated

In 2025, Portman used her social media accounts to share appeals for humanitarian aid in Gaza and messages critical of the continuation of the war, while also sharing content concerning Israeli hostages. Her posts prompted opposing reactions from different sides of the debate.

State of the evidence

Reported by the press

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Personally implicated

Portman and Benjamin Millepied's separation and subsequent divorce received extensive media coverage following reports alleging that Millepied had had an affair. The divorce was finalised in 2024 after eleven years of marriage.

Portman shared Instagram content explaining the threatened eviction of Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in East Jerusalem. The post prompted a strong reaction in Israel and pro-Israeli networks, with some accusing her of presenting the conflict one-sidedly.

State of the evidence

Reported by the press

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Personally implicated

Portman wore a cape embroidered with the names of female directors who had not been nominated that year to the Oscars, highlighting their under-representation. Rose McGowan accused her of a superficial and hypocritical gesture, pointing out that Portman had worked with relatively few female directors during her own career.

State of the evidence

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Directly implicated

In his memoir, Moby described a romantic relationship with Portman when she was very young. Portman disputed the account, stating that she had no recollection of dating him and instead describing an older man whose behaviour had seemed inappropriate to her after they met.

State of the evidence

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Personally implicated

Portman was among the signatories of a 2009 petition condemning Roman Polanski's arrest in Switzerland. In the context of #MeToo, she stated in 2018 that she deeply regretted signing and explained that she believed she had lacked sufficient information about the case at the time.

State of the evidence

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Directly implicated

Annihilation was criticised when readers pointed out that sequels to the novel described the characters played by Portman and Jennifer Jason Leigh as having Asian or mixed-race ancestry, while the film had cast two white actresses.

State of the evidence

Documented

Portman refused to travel to Jerusalem to receive the Genesis Prize, citing recent events in Israel and her refusal to appear to endorse Benjamin Netanyahu. The organisation cancelled the ceremony and several Israeli officials strongly criticised her decision.

State of the evidence

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Political responsibility

Following Portman's Oscar for Black Swan, her dance double Sarah Lane challenged the public impression that the actress had performed most of the ballet sequences. Lane considered that her work had been minimised; the production and Darren Aronofsky defended the extent of Portman's own work.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated