Natalie Portman has revealed that she has been granted “every Jew’s secret wish” this year: a Christmas tree.
The Israeli-born Star Wars actress told TV presenter Jimmy Fallon that she has never celebrated the festive season with a tree, but plans to do so this year for the first time.
Speaking on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the pregnant star said: “I celebrate Chanukah, I’m Jewish, but my husband’s family celebrates Christmas.
“So we usually do Chanukah at ours and Christmas at theirs.”
However, as the two festivals coincide this winter, Ms Portman has decided to introduce the festive custom into her own home. The Jewish festival of lights begins on Christmas Eve this year, ensuring that the period is a festive one for both faiths.
The 35-year-old’s French husband Benjamin Millepied, a French choreographer and former New York City Ballet principal dancer, converted to Judaism two years ago. The couple have a five-year-old son called Aleph.
Appearing on the show last month, Ms Portman – who is due to give birth in the spring – told Mr Fallon that she was “so excited”. She said: “My whole life, no Christmas tree. And then all of a sudden they have this great excuse because it’s kind of every Jew’s secret wish to have a Christmas tree. ... It took 35 years to get here.”
To mark the occasion, Mr Fallon then presented her with a blue and silver Tonight Show bauble, featuring a picture of him dancing.
