Oscar-winning actor, committed producer, savvy investor, and now an adopted Parisian—Natalie Portman never stops reinventing herself. Speaking from the car taking her to the set of Good Sex, she gives us a rapid-fire interview on the occasion of the new Miss Dior fragrance campaign, a role she’s embodied since 2011.
GRAZIA (GZ): During your career, which role has transformed you the most?
Natalie Portman (NP): I don’t necessarily feel transformed by my characters. Of course, I am when I’m playing them, but they don’t really impact my life once filming is over. For me, part of the challenge of being an actor is being able to inhabit all kinds of roles without letting them affect you personally.
GZ: You’ve done romantic comedies, science fiction, drama—almost everything. Is there a genre you’d still like to explore?
NP: Without hesitation—a musical! It’s been a childhood dream, and I hope it comes true one day.
GZ: You’re the co-founder of a production company, MountainA. What drives you in producing and directing compared to acting?
NP: I love producing. My co-founder, Sophie Mas, is one of my best friends and an incredibly talented producer. It’s wonderful to work and spend time together—to create and imagine worlds we love. I’m currently shooting Good Sex in New York, directed and written by Lena Dunham. As a producer, it’s incredible to be able to choose your team—people you actually want to spend time with.
GZ: What motivates you to invest financially in projects, especially in health-related ventures?
NP: For women to be independent, it’s essential that we take an interest in investment and finance. It’s still a male-dominated world, and men are the ones making most of the investments—which ultimately shapes which companies receive funding. I’m lucky to have access to interesting opportunities and am always curious to explore them. The more women who invest, the more they can support new enterprises—especially those founded by women or underrepresented people. That’s how you discover amazing projects that might otherwise go unnoticed.
GZ: You began your career at 11 years old in Luc Besson’s Léon. What gave you the courage to take on such a difficult role so young?
NP: Honestly, after so many auditions, it was simply the first job that came along. If someone had offered me a toothpaste commercial, I would’ve said yes immediately. Luck was on my side.
GZ: After 30 years in film, what lessons have you learned? What’s the secret to longevity in this industry?
NP: As an actor, you have to be aware of the privilege of doing what you love—and wish for it to last. What’s most important is being surrounded by family and friends who keep you grounded and enrich your life. They help me stay balanced, especially since the job can be destabilising—travelling constantly, becoming different people, stepping into other lives… and then returning to your own.
GZ: The new Miss Dior campaign highlights a more rock side of your personality. How do you find the balance between strength and softness in your own life?
NP: I think that’s something you learn over time—how to build walls to protect yourself and stand firm against ill-intentioned people, while remaining open and vulnerable to life’s experiences. The balance is delicate.
GZ: You now live in Paris—what are your favourite places?
NP: Paris is the most magical city to live in! What luck to be able to stroll along the Seine—it’s the most romantic thing in the world, isn’t it? I love all the bookstores on every corner, especially Shakespeare and Company across from Notre-Dame. I also adore the restaurant Georges on the roof of the Pompidou Centre—you can see the whole city. I’m making the most of it before it sadly closes soon.
GZ: Have you picked up any new Parisian habits?
NP: Even though I’m still very American, I no longer leave the house in leggings or sportswear. And I ride my bike whenever the weather’s nice.
GZ: What does being Miss Dior’s ambassador mean to you? How has it shaped your relationship with the house?
NP: It’s incredible to have been part of this family for so many years. At first, I was really intimidated—I felt like an impostor in the world of fashion, which was totally new to me. Now I’m so happy to see all the people I’ve known and loved for so long, and with whom I’ve worked for years. I also love that Miss Dior’s journey has mirrored my own in many ways.
GZ: You’re also co-founder of the women’s football team Angel City FC. What made you take on that challenge?
NP: It’s a project very close to my heart. I helped create the team with my partners Julie Uhrman and Kara Nortman, and it’s become a huge part of my life. I truly believe sport can help change culture—it’s wonderful to support and showcase incredible female athletes.
GZ: How do your own values resonate with the character of Miss Dior?
NP: I think we’ve seen Miss Dior evolve into a woman learning to be courageous, strong, and free. Witnessing that transformation and growing with her has been an incredible experience—a true gift.
GZ: Is it true your first olfactory memory comes from a gift—a perfume Jean Reno gave you?
NP: Absolutely! It was during the filming of Léon. Jean gave me a perfume he’d bought at the airport. Receiving that gift made me feel, for the first time, like an adult—like a woman.
GZ: Can you share a memorable moment from your work with the Dior team?
NP: I loved visiting the rose fields in Grasse during their bloom—it’s such a rare experience. Watching the growers pick flowers by hand and gather millions of them to extract the fragrance… It’s such a beautiful tradition, passed down for generations by women who hold the secrets of this ancestral craft. That attention and care—it’s haute couture in a bottle. And the scent of those roses carried by the wind is unforgettable.
Photography Zoé Natale Manella for Christian Dior Parfums
Fashion Natalie Portman wears Dior throughout
Makeup DIOR using Dior Forever Skin Glow “2CR”, Diorshow 5 Couleurs “862 Shocking Pink”, Diorshow Liquid Liner “096 Satin Black”, Diorshow Overvolume “090 Overblack” and Rouge Dior “220 Beige Couture Velvet Finish”
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