Natalie Portman has said she feels “lucky” and “grateful” as she revealed she is expecting her third child at the age of 44.
The Hollywood star was speaking to Harper’s Bazaar as she spoke about the news, saying she and her partner, French musician Tanguy Destable, are “very excited”.
She said: “I’m just very grateful. I know it’s such a privilege and a miracle.”
Born in Jerusalem, Portman moved to the US as a child and is currently based in Paris.
She has two children with her with ex-husband, French choreographer Benjamin Millepied, son Aleph, 14 and daughter Amalia, 9. The couple divorced two years ago.
Looking back to growing up as the daughter of a leading Israeli gynaecologist, Portman said: “I grew up hearing about how hard it is to get pregnant. I have so many people I love who’ve had such a hard time with it that I want to be respectful around that as well.
“It’s such a beautiful, joyous thing, and it’s also not an easy thing and so I know how lucky it is. I’m very aware, and I’m very grateful. I have deep appreciation and gratitude.”
Portman compared her earlier pregnancies with her current experience.
She said: “There is a gratitude that when you’re young, you don’t necessarily grasp.” She added: “Knowing it’s probably the last time, I cherish every moment."
Celebrating that she has “more energy than I thought I might," Portman explained she is going swimming regularly along with using the Gyrotonic fitness system to stay “strong”, while also ensuring she has plenty of time with her children.
The Jewish star first made an impact as a child performer in 1994 thriller Leon: The Professional before achieving international fame playing teenage queen Padme in the Star Wars sequels.
Portman sealed her reputation winning the Best Actress Oscar for her acclaimed performance in Black Swan in 2010.
She is set to appear in the black comedy The Gallerist to be released later this year,, and will co-star with Mark Ruffalo, Rashida Jones and Meg Ryan in Jewish writer-director Lena Dunham’s Netflix romantic comedy Good Sex in 2027.
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