Natalie's stylist, Kate Young, has some incredible nice things to say about Natalie in this new interview. When asked what the best thing about styling Natalie was, she responded...
My favorite look she’s worn was Givenchy Couture at Cannes. Why do I love dressing her? She is someone I really respect and admire and like. She’s a good friend and a good person. She is someone I know as a regular person. I have two assistants during this time of year and we were all watching the Golden Globes together and they know her. We spend a lot of time with her and every time the camera panned to her during the show we were like “WOW!” She is someone we know who is a normal, good, awesome person and then you see her in hair and makeup with jewelry and a dress and we somehow forget, which seems impossible, that she is just about the most beautiful person on the planet right now. So that is awesome to see her sometimes and be removed from it and be like "Holy sh*t, she’s beautiful." I should show you my text messages. I texted her during the Globes saying, “Holy sh*t, you’re gorgeous. We are dying.”
As a bonus, here is another interview with Kate in which she reveals she styled Natalie for a Dior shoot last week. Something to look forward to later in the year.
A couple meatier (probably a poor choice of words for a Natalie Portman site) than usual tidbits for you guys today.
- The 3D converted version of The Phantom Menace blasts back into cinemas in just a couple weeks. French site Excessif have seen the film and they don't seem very impressed. Here's Carlotto's translation:
[Talking about Titanic’s successful conversion] The rebirth is all the more tremendous when you then watch this debased version of Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace which quickly annihilates our last hopes. […] The main offending thing to note is the 3D. It hardly creates any relief, the process becoming what cinephile fear the most: a mere trick. Furthermore the digital effects were universally and with good reason praised in 1999. Too bad this 3D version disturbs the alchemy between the live action shots and the CG shots by creating a clear line between the two worlds. Instead of abolishing the real world boundaries, the 3D conversion reinforces the distinction between actors in the flesh and CG elements.
- Finally, NY Mag looks at how Dior are doing without Galliano. Apparently pretty damn well. For now at least. In the article we hear what Natalie and other celebs bring to the brand.
Charlize Theron offers a "glamorous ultra-femininity", Natalie Portman a "more consensual femininity", Marion Cotillard brings "classy, French sophistication" and the American Mila Kunis a touch of youth.
Toto found a new photo from the Golden Globes. Pictured is Natalie and Sascha Baron Cohen, who is better known as Borat and Bruno and the guy who gets to go to bed with Isla Fisher.
Hesher is still rolling out across the globe and, even though it was a commercial flop, it's nice to see that it's at least getting theatric releases in a lot of European countries.
For instance, it seems to open in Spain in a few days and here is the Spanish trailer. Sadly we can't hear Natalie "speaking" Spanish because they actually put together an honest trailer and focus on the relationship of Hesher and the kid.
If that's disappointing, here's a scene from the Italian version of Hesher and this time we do get to here the Italian Natalie voice.
And finally, the UK DVD and download release is set for February 13th, just in time for Valentines Day!
It's almost time for the 3rd annual Charlie Awards, in which we let you guys vote on the best and worst happenings from the previous year in Natland. Below are the current categories. If you have any other suggestions, fire away!
Best Magazine Photo Best Magazine Cover Most Memorable Public Appearance Best Wallpaper Best NP.COMic Best TV/Internet Appearance Rumoured Project You Wish Was True Best News Of The Year Worst News Of The Year Best Natalie Film Best Film Couple Best Film Surprise Biggest Film Disappointment Yearly Rating
Not much out there today so far, so how about a few mini updates to tide us over?
- The lovely Padma Lakshmi, host of Top Chef, has mentioned Natalie in this new interview about the show.
Charlize was certainly game for anything. Natalie Portman is not, because she’s a vegan. We design the challenge around [the guest]. But they volunteer to come on the show, we don’t go and scout people.
- I'm not so sure about this one, but this article claims Natalie and other celebs have indicated they are attending or at least considering attending the Sherwood Oaks College Bankable Actors & Directors class beginning January 31st - February 2nd.
Natnat found a new candid photo of Natalie, Benjamin and Aleph at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art - presumably from the weekend.
It's quite a plain look but this is honestly one of my favourite Natalie looks in ages. Love the jacket, glasses, bag, jeans, sneakers...very cool. Well, my idea of cool, which is probably not cool at all.
Be warned, Aleph is in the photo although his face is hidden in Benjamin's heaving bosom.
UPDATE - More (heavily watermarked) candids have been added to the gallery, thanks to Kitten.
Probably the last couple news worthy items from last weekends Golden Globes.
- Toto made quite a cute find. It turns out that the babysitter was not called when Natalie and Benjamin attended the Golden Globes, because Aleph came with them. No, he wasn't chilling in the ice bucket, he was "upstairs".
Natalie Portman, last year’s best actress-drama winner for “Black Swan,” did not sit at her prime table in the pit the whole time because she was taking care of her 7-month-old son in a room upstairs. When Natalie, a presenter, did sit down, she was with her fiancé, Benjamin Millepied, former New Yorker, now founder of the LA Dance Project.
- The clip below has the two moments that the camera focused on Natalie in the crowd, which may have been missed even if you did watch the show.
A quick recap. Natalie was linked to the Wachowski's secretive Jupiter Rising project, but I was told that the link was definitely false.
This morning I heard back from the same source and while no offer has come in and Natalie knows nothing about the project, there are rumblings that MAYBE Warner Brothers will be making an offer.
Obviously, if that's true, there's still a long way to go before this is considered a possible new project for Natalie, and from her side of the fence there is nothing tangible to this rumour yet.
The crush worthy Rachel Bilson (The O.C. and...errr...) has taken to Funny Or Die to do a rap in the style of Natalie's famous SNL rap video. In fact, Rachel throws down Natalie's name towards the end and appears as the Black Swan. It's cute enough but definitely not as funny or catchy as Natalie's video. The biggest problem is that it's quite tame - the whole point seems to be for Rachel to show a badass side, but she never really goes for it like Natalie did. It's like a 6 out of 10 on the badass scale.
For the original 10 out of 10 Natalie rap, click here.
Thor 2 will begin filming in London this summer, and Garcy found a link with the Norwegian trainer who will be getting Natalie in shape for the film. The article is in Norwegian, but Kris was kind enough to write up a rough translation.
The full translation is after the jump but below is the specific Natalie mention.
I'm specially happy to train Natalie because she has recently given birth and I'm specialized in "prenatal" and "postpartum" which means alot of my clients are mothers and I'm specialized in getting back into shape after childbirth. - I'm always happy to take on a new challenge with my clients, celebrity or not.
