Dayton Daily News

Portman, husband divorce amid rumors of his cheating

- By Nardine Saad

Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied’s marriage has come to an end after more than a decade, The Times has confirmed.

People reported Friday that the “May December” star, who has reportedly been separated from Millepied for months, quietly filed for divorce from the director-choreograp­her in July and has now finalized the split. The Oscar winner filed for divorce in Paris, where they live with their two children, Aleph, 12, and Amalia, 7, The Times confirmed.

Representa­tives for Port- man declined to comment further Friday and repre- sentatives for Millepied did not immediatel­y respond to requests for comment.

Portman, 42, and Mil- lepied, 46, first met on the set of Darren Aronofsky’s 2010 film “Black Swan.” Millepied — a former prin- cipal dancer with the New York City Ballet — served as a choreograp­her and adviser.

Shortly after meeting, the Oscar winner and the L.A. Dance Project co-founder announced they were engaged and expecting a baby boy together. The couple welcomed Aleph in 2011.

The “Black Swan” collaborat­ors married in August 2012 in a private ceremony.

The split comes amid cheating rumors that have dogged the couple since last May when the French out- let Voici claimed the “Dune: Part Two” choreograp­her had an extramarit­al affair. A source told People in June that the affair “was short- lived and it is over” and that Millepied regarded it as “an enormous mistake.”

However, dealing with the onslaught was “initially really tough” for Portman, but friends rallied around the “Thor: Love and Thun- der” star and helped get her through the worst of it, a friend of the couple told the magazine on Friday.

“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 fam- ily, friends and work,” the friend said.

While neither has spoken publicly about the cheat- ing allegation­s or subse- quent separation rumors,

Portman was confronted with the narratives swirling around them in a February interview with Vanity Fair. However, she responded by saying, “It’s terrible, and I have no desire to contribute to it.”

The Angel City FC soccer team co-owner is said to be prioritizi­ng her children during the split and is working on several projects, including the Guy Ritchie film “Fountain of Youth” and her limited TV series “Lady in the Lake.”

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