Natalie Portman reveals why she prefers living in Paris

IANS May 14, 2025 310 views

Natalie Portman has candidly shared her love for Parisian life, highlighting the city's distinctive social nuances and cultural depth. Her experiences living in France with her two children reveal a profound appreciation for the politeness and discretion of French society. Despite her roots in Long Island, Portman finds Paris more engaging, with its constant cultural stimulation and sophisticated lifestyle. Her recent divorce from Benjamin Millepied hasn't dampened her enthusiasm for raising their children in this enriching environment.

"I feel like the biggest compliment is 'elle est très discrète'" - Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman reveals why she prefers living in Paris
Los Angeles, May 14: Hollywood star Natalie Portman has explained why she prefers living in Paris than in Los Angeles.

Key Points

1

French culture offers unique social interactions and politeness

2

Portman appreciates Parisian privacy and child-rearing environment

3

Hollywood actress finds Paris more stimulating than Los Angeles

4

Amicable co-parenting with ex-husband Benjamin Millepied continues

The 43-year-old actress talked about her life in Paris, where she lives with her two children – Aleph and Amalia in a cover story for Net-a-Porter, reports people.com.

“I find the people here are actually incredibly friendly – you just have to know how to interact, so that we’re not the ones being rude. Now, when I go back to the U.S., I’m like, ‘Oh,’ I would go into a store and not say hello to everyone there? It’s weird,” she said/.

She added, “I think we have an assumption that Western cultures are all the same, and kind of evened out by all this pop culture that everyone consumes. It’s not true: it’s extremely specific here, and the culture is very different in both deep and surface ways.”

Despite the cordial greetings to strangers that may seem odd to the average city dweller, Portman said the Parisians understand her boundaries.

“They’re very good at privacy here,” she revealed.

“I feel like the biggest compliment is ‘elle est très discrète’ (‘she is very discreet’).”

Portman, who shares her two children with ex-husband Benjamin Millepied, said she's grateful for being able to raise them with the politeness and appreciation for affection that comes with living in France.

“All the kids that come to my house are, like, ‘Bonjour Madame,’ and give me the bise (cheek-to-cheek kiss),” she explained.

“And before they leave, they are, like, ‘Thank you for having me,’ and if I’m not nearby, they’ll come and find me to say it.”

Portman, who grew up in Long Island, New York, also expressed how much she enjoys the overall cultural aesthetics of the Parisian lifestyle, noting that even the “cold and gray” weather doesn’t diminish the amount of elevated entertainment there is to indulge in.

“There’s always some incredible exhibit or concert or dinner party or writers in town — something fascinating and stimulating happening. And the frequent vacations are so clutch!”

After being married for 11 years, Portman filed for divorce in July 2023.

It was finalised in February 2024. The two adults have chosen to co-parent their children amicably.

"(Natalie's) biggest priority has been ensuring a smooth transition for her children," a source close to the former couple told people.com in March 2024.

"She and Ben really love their kids and are equally focused on being the best co-parents they can be. Nothing is more important."

Reader Comments

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Rahul K.
As someone who's visited both LA and Paris, I completely get her point! Paris has that old-world charm we Indians appreciate - the respect for personal space combined with warm formalities reminds me of how we treat elders back home. Though I'd miss Indian street food if I lived there! 🇮🇳
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Priya M.
Interesting perspective! In India we also value that balance between warmth and privacy. But I wonder - isn't Paris quite expensive? Most Indians would find it hard to afford that lifestyle. Still, the cultural richness she describes sounds wonderful ✨
A
Arjun S.
The part about kids being polite really resonates. In our culture too, we teach children to greet elders properly. Though I must say, cheek-kissing would make most conservative Indian parents uncomfortable! Different strokes for different folks I guess 😄
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Sneha T.
While I appreciate her love for Paris, this feels a bit like privileged perspective. Most people don't have the luxury to choose between global cities. That said, her focus on co-parenting is admirable - family first is something we Indians understand well 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
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Vikram R.
Paris may be great for celebs, but for regular Indians abroad, nothing beats the warmth of our own communities. Still, her observations about cultural differences are spot on - we often assume Western countries are similar when each has unique traditions, just like our diverse Indian states!
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Neha P.
The part about privacy is interesting. In India, we often struggle with this - either too much interference or complete isolation. Maybe we could learn from Parisian discretion while keeping our famous Indian hospitality! Though I'd miss the random aunties checking in on me 😂

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Natalie Portman Paris Living Hollywood French Culture Celebrity Lifestyle Benjamin Millepied Celebrity Divorce