Actress Natalie Portman has revealed that her children, Aleph and Amelia, prefer not to watch her films, including well-known titles such as the Star Wars series. The 44-year-old actress shared this insight during The Gallerist premiere at Sundance, explaining that her kids want to appreciate her simply as their mother rather than as an on-screen character.
Portman, who shares her 14-year-old son Aleph and 8-year-old daughter Amelia with her ex-husband Benjamin Millepied, said her children have shown a marked resistance to seeing any of her performances.
“My kids are so resistant to seeing anything that I’m in,”
she told E! News.
“I was always like, ‘Yeah, if you want to see it, like if some of your friends have seen it or whatever.’ And they were like ‘No, thanks.’”
She added that she understands their perspective:
“They kind of just want to see me as me, which I appreciate.”
Children’s Interest in the Animated Film ‘Arlo’
Although her kids shy away from her live-action roles, they have shown interest in Arlo, an animated project that Portman produced and which recently received an Oscar nomination. The film’s futuristic themes sparked meaningful discussions between her and her children, touching on topics like environmental challenges and family dynamics.
Discussing the movie’s relevance to her children, Portman explained that Arlo’s portrayal of parents as holograms, rather than being physically present, raised questions.
“It raised so many interesting conversations from why the parents are holograms and not at home to, of course, the climate challenges that the kids face in it, to some of the solutions that the kids come up with, like ‘Is that really possible in life, living on platforms above the earth to let the earth rest?’”
she said.
“Things like that are amazing conversations I got to have with the kids because of the movie.”
How Arlo Encourages Imagination and Respect for Real Issues
Portman emphasized that Arlo addresses serious themes without talking down to its young audience.
“The story dealt with very pressing issues and offered so much inspiration and hope and encouragement of imagination for children,”
she said. The actress praised the movie’s respectful approach to topics important to kids today:
“I think that it takes kids very seriously. It doesn’t try and gloss over things. Kids are living through all of these experiences right now, and I think need to be talked to with a lot of respect.”
Understanding the Dynamic Between Portman and Her Children
Natalie Portman kids films do not currently include live-action features she stars in, as her children prefer to separate their experience of her as an actress from their relationship with her as their mother. However, their engagement with Arlo suggests that films encouraging thoughtful reflection on relevant issues can capture their interest. This dynamic offers insight into how celebrity parents might navigate their public and private roles.
Going forward, Portman may continue to produce media that resonates personally with her family while respecting the boundaries her children set around her acting career.
