Natalie Portman reveals she doesn’t buy clothes and holidays by train to combat climate change
As one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, it would be easy to get used to a luxurious lifestyle of private jets and high-end fashion.
But it’s a frugal life for Natalie Portman who mends her clothes, tries to take the train on holiday and uses a car-sharing app to fight climate change.
The actress and ardent activist, 41, also said libraries play a “huge role” in her family, as it allows them to take pleasure in “sharing and not owning.”
“My veganism is very much an environmental choice along with animal welfare,” she shared Hollywood reporter.
“I haven’t bought or used leather, fur or animal products in 20 years.”
Activist: It’s a frugal life for Natalie Portman who mends her clothes, tries to go on holiday by train and uses a car-sharing app to fight climate change
Natalie continued, “I use a car sharing app, which are all electric cars. I buy vintage clothes, and only when really necessary, and of course I repair damaged items, most recently a handbag, instead of buying a new one.
‘When we travel, we try to organize our trips to places where we can go by train; or if we must fly, stay long enough to warrant the trip.
“The library also plays a big role in family consciousness — a place where we can get joy and more choice through sharing, not owning. It’s a process, and obviously imperfect, but the awareness is there.’
The Black Swan actress has two children, son Aleph, 11, and daughter Amalia, six, with her husband, choreographer Benjamin Millepied.
She previously co-produced Eating Animals, a film about factory farming in the US, and launched a vegan shoe line.
The Israeli-American star is also an avid social justice campaigner and was a founding member of the now-defunct Time’s Up movement in 2018.
She said its disappearance was “really, really heartbreaking” and said she is “painful” that it no longer exists.
“I think a lot of people have made mistakes, but mistakes kill activism,” she said.
“You have to be so perfect to demand the change you want to see, and I don’t know, maybe acknowledging all our imperfection as human beings and saying that people can do something wrong and also be good at something else, with with a little more shades of gray we might be able to make more progress.’
Frugal: The actress and ardent activist, 41, also said libraries play a ‘huge role’ in her family as it allows them to take pleasure in ‘sharing and not owning’
Natalie’s breakout role was in Luc Besson’s film, Léon: The Professional, age X. She said it was “devastating” to learn that sexual assault allegations had been made against him.
She also said she has a “complicated” relationship with the 1994 film in which her character, 12-year-old Mathilda, is taken into the care of a professional assassin.
“It’s a movie that’s still loved, and people speak to me about it more than almost anything I’ve ever made, and it gave me my career,” she said.
“But it sure is, if you look at it now, it certainly has some cringy, to say the least, aspects to it. So yes, it’s complicated for me.’
She will next star in Todd Haynes’ Cannes premiere in May/December.
One to watch: She previously co-produced Eating Animals, a film about factory farming in the US, and launched a vegan shoe line