Put it down to the post-Christmas news lull, but the Oscarweb is rather excited about this morning’s unexpected revelation that surefire nominee (and arguable Best Actress favorite) Natalie Portman is engaged and expecting her first child with French ballet dancer and choreographer Benjamin Millepied. (Could you ask for a much more appropriate surname for a hoofer?)
My thoughts on the matter don’t extend much further than, “Well, that’s great news for her,” and perhaps, “How unreasonably pretty is that baby going to be?”. But already some are speculating as to what this news means — if anything at all — for her Oscar chances.
I don’t see that it makes much difference beyond compounding an already high level of industry goodwill toward the actress, but it is true that a baby bump (not that Portman’s will be much in evidence by Oscar night) has been something of a good luck charm for many a nominated actress over the years, from Eva Marie Saint to Meryl Streep to Catherine Zeta-Jones to Rachel Weisz (then Mrs. Darren Aronofsky, as fate would have it).
Of course, there have a been a number of nominees for whom the Academy deemed preganancy its own reward: Judy Garland, Glenn Close, Marcia Gay Harden and double-nominee Cate Blanchett. Plus, coincidentally enough, the lady many are tipping as Portman’s closest competition, Annette Bening. Make of that silly trivia what you will.
More importantly, however, congrats to Portman and her beau, whom she met, of course, on the set of “Black Swan” — taking on that role has turned out very sweetly for her indeed.
Comments
36 responses to “Portman and child”
Yay for Natalie Portman! What an excitingly golden moment for her both professionally and personally. If only she could erase No Strings Attached and Your Highness from existence then all would be right in the world….
“How unreasonably pretty is that baby going to be?”
Sometimes two pretty people can make an ugly baby or vice-versa, it’s the universe having a sense of humor. My mum was a stunner in the 1960s-70s and my dad was quite the goon. I was named PETA’s Sexiest Vegetarian 2010 and one of the 100 Hottest people in my city of 600,000. :/
I guess I’m saying it’s a crapshoot.
Anyway, congrats to Nat who I’ve been a fan of since Beautiful Girls and Leon. This news can only help her Oscar chances.
Congratulations, Natalie!
I seriously don’t understand how anyone can make a legitimate argument that this will affect her Oscar chances. I guarantee you most Academy members either don’t know or don’t care. If one must make the argument that it will affect her, the only way I see it is in the positive. It dispels this perception she’s had of being a little girl and now people will see her as a woman. But again, someone please present a level-headed, intelligent argument of why this would hurt her chances?
Congrats to Natalie and Benjamin!
I’m not gonna lie, I’ve always secretly wanted Natalie to get back with Gael, but alas, I’ll find a way to deal. I figured if she wasn’t going to be with me, she might as well be with the hottest man on the planet so I’d feel a little better about the situation.
Anywho, I wish you and Ben all the best, Natalie!
Aside from that, I am extremely happy for her! She’s been my favorite actress for some time, and my first on-screen crush. Couldn’t be more excited for her this year.
@Tye-Grr – I know right! Gael + Portman Forever!
Kevin K: Ask Sasha Stone — she seems to have her theories. But yeah, I agree with you.
@Michael…No Strings Attached and Your Highness havn’t even been released yet. Sure, they could both turn out to be crap, particularly the former, but how about we hold judgement for now? Afterall, Your Highness is from David Gordon Green.
I asked her earlier on twitter, no answer yet. Hoping for some clairvoyance soon, but for now, I’m kind of at a loss about this. I think she has the Oscar all but sewn up. Firth, Portman, and Bale pretty much have it in the bag, I think, Best Supporting Actress is the only category that still feels open to me.
I see that LeAnn Rimes announced her engagement to Eddie Cibrian today as well. Watch out Country Music Awards!
Wait, Loyal… PETA’s sexiest vegetarian 2010 is Olivia Wilde. Thirteen reads IC? That would be cool.
My first thought was “Oh shit, now that she’s no longer single the press gets to run with the ‘DURRR BEST ACTRESS ENDS YOUR MARRIAGE’ crap again.” You know something’s wrong with me when I’m a straight guy and THAT’S what upsets me about Natalie Portman getting engaged.
I have heard that Natalie Portman is expecting two babies. One Name is Oscar and the birth date is february 27th 2011! : ) You will see…
Olivia Wilde, that’s great company. I was awarded the title back in March Justin.
http://sexyvegnextdoor2010.peta.org/Winners.aspx
:)
I will continue to research!
Okay. I have my info.
Here you go Justin
sexyvegnextdoor2010. peta. org/ Winners. aspx
@tony rock – I hate all comedies in general. They should simply not exist. The world should only be subjected to artsy-fartsy indie films, horror films, depressing dramas, sci-fi/fantasy/action films, and porn. Comedy is the worst genre of film EVER!!!!!!!!!
Your name really is Loyal! Congrats on uniqueness.
Okay, sorry for the diversion everyone.
Congrats to Natalie Portman, whom I drunkenly stumbled into once when she visited a friend that went to my college. She glared at me, as she should have.
^hopefully it goes without saying that I am just kidding.
Thanks Justin.
On to Natalie (a very sexy Vegan mind you), I think she stands a good chance at being the 2011 Entertainer of the Year. A probable Oscar win for Black Swan, a turn in a big comedy (Your Highness), AND she appears in a summer tentpole film (Thor). It has a very Sandra Bullock vibe to it, bab
The only other star who might give Natalie a run for her money for 2011 is Hollywood’s golden boy Clooney with The Descendants (Best Actor nom?) and The Ides of March (Written, Directed, and co-starring Clooney).
nuuuuuu. my dreams dashed by a bloody frenchman
So happy for Natalie. What a role of a lifetime Black Swan ended up being – a husband, a baby, and surely an Oscar on the way.
I can’t see Portman losing now with the media blitz undoubtedly being behind her like they were Bullock earlier this year.
That just about locks up the big six categories I’d say. ;-)
That makes that “Would you f– her?” line in Black Swan all the more ironic.
I still think Annette is going to win. Aronofsky’s lead actors have yet to win (despite being the best of the year, debatably), and I still don’t think that Academy members are going to respond well to Black Swan at all. And Your Highness/Friends with Benefits could be her “Norbit”. And I think we all knoW how that turned out for Eddie Murphy (the frontrunner who lost to a veteran in a comedic performance). Annette Bening for the Oscar!!
I don’t think this makes an ounce of difference in the Oscar race. The only times I feel personal life factors into the race is when a contender’s bad behavior becomes public (as happened to Eddie Murphy and Russell Crowe’s A Beautiful Mind bid) or they grab sympathy votes (such as Elizabeth Taylor’s first win or Heath Ledger’s one).
I don’t think anyone finds mere comedy nearly as upsetting as Norbit. Neither looks to be full of racist caricatures. They look silly, but she is acting like an adult. I think she’ll pull through those.
Guys, Natalie Portman is not Eddie Murphy. “Norbit” was just one of the possible factors contributing to his loss, following his lack of personal popularity within the industry and a sputtering Oscar vehicle.
My comment about the baby was cut off but the point was it’s like Bullock 2.0, only in the case of Bullock she waited until after the Oscars to announce the baby.
It will be interesting to see how Portman handles the press moving forward. It’s certain that 99% of the red carpet and press room questions will revolve around the pregnancy, losing weight for Black Swan, putting weight on because of the pregnancy, the ins and outs of meeting her Fiancé during Black Swan, the gender and possible names of the baby, etc…
For other actors that sort of bombardment wouldn’t be an issue. But Portman is notoriously private. She’s very much a person first, then an actress, then a celebrity.
wow, Guy, you’re probably right. do people need to make everything about an Oscar? please world, leave their baby alone.
Congrats to Natalie Portman! There are always these ancillary things that spring up during the oscar race and people speculate here and there whether it will sway voters but ultimately her performance is devastating, And the strength of Black Swan seems to be growing in strength with each successive critical announcement. I think SAG will tell us everything we need to know, if they recognize Benning I think it will make for an interesting duel come Oscar night.
I don’t think Natalie Portman is that great of an actress and this role is no exception. That being said, I do think she’s going to win the Oscar and that this pregnancy announcement is going to help. She has a PR team behind her and why announce now if it wouldn’t help? If she really wanted to hide it she could as I doubt she’ll be eight months pregnant at the Oscars.
Zach,
What does DURRR mean in your comment about best actress ruining your marriage?
Congrats to Natalie and Benjamin! It`s a great news regadless of Oscar but if it can boost the deserving winner`s chances over the make-up winner that Benning would`ve been had she won for the performence which is neither her personal best nor best of the year, yeah, why not? Natalie`s performance will be remembered while Benning`s forgettable one one won`t except by Annettards from Awards Daily.