Natalie Portman is the cover star of Harper Bazaar's September issue, where the Oscar-winning star talks Time's Up, acting from the age of 13 and the pressures of female beauty.
The actress also discusses her current movie, Lucy in the Sky, which she stars in alongside Jon Hamm. The film is being produced by Reese Witherspoon's production company Pacific Standard.
On the Time’s Up movement, Portman says, "I’ve been so inspired by the many women I’ve met through Time’s Up – like Reese Witherspoon, America Ferrera and Kerry Washington – who are doing such impressive creative work, producing, acting, directing and taking such good care of their families. They are inspiring activists and also great friends. Whenever I think I have too much to handle, I see what they’re doing and know I can do more."
She also touched on the pressure women face, especially in Hollywood. "As a woman, you are constantly fighting against only being valued for your looks, because it becomes a very tenuous thing, to be defined by the gaze of others, the opinion of others. And beauty is, by definition, ephemeral, it’s a thing that that you can’t trap in time, it’s a butterfly, it lives for a second. So to make a lifetime worthwhile and have meaning cannot rest on beauty," she said. She's not the first actress to discuss the pressure of remaining beautiful - Gwyneth Paltrow opened up about the issue recently on her podcast.
The Black Swan star also discussed how she chooses roles, telling the magazine, "I just feel weird if I’m at work pretending to be a mom to some kid who’s not my kid. So I’ve been trying out wild experiences like being an astronaut or a pop star." The Israeli actress is married to French dancer Benjamin Millepied and they have a daughter and son.
Portman currently preparing to play the first female Thor which just might be the wildest experience of all.
The September issue of Harper’s Bazaar is on sale on Friday 2 August 2019.
