Who is Natalie Portman’s husband, Benjamin Millepied, and how many children do they have together?

Natalie Portman was seen without her wedding ring in Sydney shortly before it was announced that she had split from her husband Benjamin Millepied.

The rumors were fueled by claims that Natalie’s 11-year-old husband had cheated on the Star Wars actress.

That’s what a source close to the couple said Us weekly that they were “on the out” despite “trying to work on their marriage” after the first reports of cheating.

They added that “Natalie believes Benjamin’s affair was a short and stupid relationship that means nothing to him”, and that she was “willing to see if she is able to restore her trust in him” for the benefit of their children .

Who is Natalie Portman’s husband, Benjamin Millepied, and how many children do they share?

Star Wars: The reported breakup comes after claims that professional dancer Natalie cheated with 25-year-old climate activist Camille Étienne

Who is Benjamin Millepied?

Benjamin Millepied is a French professional dancer and choreographer living in the United States since 1993.

He is the youngest of three sons, born on June 10, 1977 in Bordeaux.

Benjamin was first taught ballet at the age of eight by his mother, herself a former dancer, before studying in Lyon from age 13 to 16.

However, at just 16 years old, he crossed the Atlantic Ocean to attend the School of American Ballet in New York on a ‘Bourse Lavoisier’ (scholarship from the French Ministry).

After two years, he joined the New York City Ballet, where his career progressed to soloist in 1998 and principal in 2002.

In addition to that promotion, he became a choreographer before retiring from the New York City Ballet in 2011, having met his wife-to-be, Natalie Portman.

Dance shoes: Benjamin first learned ballet when he was eight and became a professional dancer and choreographer in the US

How did Natalie Portman meet Benjamin Millepied?

Natalie and Benjamin met on the set of her 2009 film Black Swan, for which Benjamin was the choreographer.

The Frenchman left his then girlfriend Isabella Boylston – a ballerina with the American Ballet Theater – to start a relationship with Natalie.

The film earned the actress an Academy Award for best actress in February 2011, when she got engaged to her former colleague and was expecting their first child.

They married on August 4, 2012 in California, where Benjamin had set up the LA Dance Project the previous year.

The couple moved to Paris while he was the dance director of the Paris Opera Ballet between 2014 and 2016, but returned to LA after his resignation.

More than colleagues: Natalie and Benjamin met while working on the actress’ 2010 film Black Swan (pictured), which was choreographed by Benjamin

Issue: The couple (pictured in 2013) were married for 11 years, having married in August 2012, before reportedly splitting

How many children do Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied have?

The couple’s first child, a son named Aleph, was born in June 2011 while Natalie and Benjamin were still engaged.

Aleph moved to and from Paris with his parents before his sister was born when they returned to LA.

Natalie and Benjamin welcomed Amalia in February 2017.

When news of her husband’s reported affair broke, Natalie allegedly tried to smooth things over for the sake of their children.

Benjamin is said to have had an affair with a 25-year-old woman – climate activist Camille Étienne.

Not so happy families: Natalie and Benjamin (pictured in 2022) were set to split, despite the actress’s reported efforts to keep things together for the benefit of their two children

In June, the couple’s marriage was rocked by a report in a French magazine that 46-year-old Millepied had cheated on his wife with a 25-year-old climate activist named Camille Etienne (pictured)