Natalie Portman & Benjamin Millepied Are Reportedly ‘Equally Focused’ on Co-Parenting Amid Divorce: ‘Nothing Is More Important’
Being dedicated parents to their two kids is the most important thing for Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied, according to a new report.
Rumors of a divorce have swirled for months, with a rep for Portman confirming to PEOPLE on Friday that the two quietly filed for divorce about eight months ago and finalized it last month in France. Now, an insider dished that the May December actress and her director/choreographer ex are “equally focused” on co-parenting their kids Aleph, 12, and Amalia, 7.
Co-Parenting
“Her biggest priority has been ensuring a smooth transition for her children,” a friend of the exes told PEOPLE about Portman. “She and Ben really love their kids and are equally focused on being the best co-parents they can be. Nothing is more important.”
This has already proved true. Last month, the family of four were spotted on a rare outing in Los Angeles together, with Daily Mail sharing the pictures. They went out to lunch with Aleph and Amalia, with everyone dressed casually in jeans and t-shirts. The Black Swan star was notably not wearing her ring at the time, although she seemed completely civil with Millepied. We love to see them so focused on their kids despite how their relationship unfolded.
Helpful Friends
According to sources, things were not always easy between Portman and her French ex, who was rumored to have had an affair with climate activist Camille Étienne last June. The source told PEOPLE recently that friends have helped the Oscar-winning actress through the divorce.
“It was initially really tough for her, but her friends rallied around her and helped get her through the worst of it,” the insider said. “Natalie is coming out of a really tough and painful year but she’s come out the other side of it stronger and is finding joy in her family, friends and work.”
Break from Acting
The Star Wars alum has always turned to acting to get through challenging times in her life — even if she’s had to take a break every now and then. She paused working for a bit when she became pregnant with her firstborn, who was born in 2011. “When you have a kid and you’re an actor, you’re forced into a long break. I was showing from day one!” she told Reader’s Digest in Nov. 2023. “There was no way I was able to work when I was pregnant. So you’re basically off for a year, and then I chose more time to be with my family, so it ended up being two years that I didn’t act, but it was obviously a magic time in my life.”
The break made her more excited than ever to return to acting. “But it also was good because it gave me a hunger to come back and an excitement and the renewed energy of why I want to make things and how I want to make things,” she added.
These celebrity exes are getting co-parenting right.