BOLLYWOOD NATALIE’S FRENCH ETIQUETTE STRESS

Hollywood star Natalie Portman (right) says she struggles to get her head around French etiquette rules. She moved to Paris, France in 2014 after her hubby, dancer-choreographer Benjamin Millepied became the Paris Opera Ballet’s director of dance. But following a recent move back to Los Angeles, Portman is pleased to be back on familiar turf, as she is never really came to terms with French social customs.

“I feel there’s a lot of rules of politeness and codes of behaviour there you have to follow,” the 35-year-old said on Jimmy Kimmel’s show.

The Academy Awardwinner added that Parisians have a very “cool” demeanour, and she is very careful about how she behaves in public. Portman was grateful when a friend shared some advice with her so that she wouldn’t be snubbed by disgruntled staff in boutiques. “A friend of mine taught me that when you go in, you have to say ‘bonjour’ before you say anything else, then wait two seconds before you say something else,” she said.

In contrast, Portman, who has a five-year-old son named Aleph, finds Americans to be a little overly friendly.