French dancer and choreographer Benjamin Millepied joined his wife Natalie Portman at the 2018 L.A. Dance Project’s Gala at Hauser & Wirth in Los Angeles. They posed for pictures with Ava Phillippe and Reese Witherspoon.
Ava Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon, Natalie Portman, and her husband Benjamin Millepied at the 2018 L.A. Dance Project’s Gala at Hauser & Wirth in Los Angeles on October 20, 2018 (Credit: Dave Bedrosian / Future Image / IPA / KIKA / WENN / Apega / Ivan Nikolov)
The American/Israeli actress met her husband while playing the lead in 2010’s Black Swan. She gave her partner a shout-out when accepting the Best Actress Oscar for her performance in the movie.
Natalie Portman says meeting her husband, Benjamin Millepied, was the best part of making “Black Swan” (Credit: Dave Bedrosian / Future Image / IPA / KIKA / WENN / Apega / Ivan Nikolov)
“So many people helped me prepare for this role,” she said then, including her “beautiful love” in her list of acknowledgments. “Benjamin Millepied, who choreographed the film and has now given me my most important role in my life,” she gushed. At the time, she was pregnant with their son, Aleph Portman-Millepied.
Benjamin Millepied Facts and Inspirational Quotes
| Net Worth: | Benjamin Millepied is a French dancer and choreographer with an estimated net worth of $10 million. |
|---|---|
| Full Name: | Benjamin Millepied |
| Born: | Benjamin Millepied was born on June 10, 1977, in Bordeaux, France. |
| Dating: | He left his live-in girlfriend Isabella Boylston in 2009 and started dating Natalie Portman. They were married in August 2012. Benjamin Millepied dated Isabella Boylston, a fellow ballet dancer, from 2008 to 2009. Millepied met Portman on the set of the 2010 film "Black Swan," in which he was the choreographer. They were married in 2012 and had two children together, Aleph and Amalia. They divorced in 2023. |
| Kids: | Benjamin Millepied and his ex-wife, actress Natalie Portman, have two children together: Aleph and Amalia. Aleph was born in 2011 in Paris, France, and Amalia was born in 2017 in Los Angeles, California. |
| Height: | Benjamin Millepied's height of 1.78 m (5 feet 10 inches) is slightly taller than the average height of French males, which is around 1.75 m (5 feet 9 inches). Benjamin Millepied is approximately 7.5 inches (19 cm) taller than Natalie Portman, whose height is 5 feet 2 ½ inches (158.8 cm). |
| Nationality: | French |
| Source of Wealth: | He has earned his wealth through his successful career as a ballet dancer and choreographer. He has danced with the New York City Ballet and the Paris Opera Ballet, and he has choreographed for a number of ballet companies and opera houses around the world. He is also the artistic director of the Los Angeles Dance Project. |
| Ethnicity/Race: | Benjamin Millepied is of French descent. In an interview with an Israeli newspaper, he indicated that he is converting to Judaism |
| Why is Benjamin Millepied famous? | Millepied gained significant attention when he choreographed for movie director Darren Aronofsky's ballet thriller, Black Swan (2010), and even took on a minor dancing role in the film. Throughout the production, his connection with actress Natalie Portman (whom he would later marry) further elevated his public visibility. |
| How did Natalie Portman meet Benjamin Millepied? | Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied met in 2009 while working on Darren Aronofsky's thriller Black Swan, in which Millepied was the choreographer. They started dating soon after and were married in 2012. They have two children together, Aleph and Amalia. |
“I did grow up in France, and even though I didn’t go to the school or dance with the Paris Opera Ballet, I absorbed similar ideas in my training.” – Benjamin Millepied
“I understand the scale of a big company. I danced for one for almost 20 years.” – Benjamin Millepied
“Directing is very close to choreography; you deal with space, time, emotions, lighting, making beautiful images.” – Benjamin Millepied
“I was born in France. I grew up in Africa.” – Benjamin Millepied
“Most dancers have no awareness of how they look; half of them think they’re fat. There is anorexia in the ballet world; there are those things.” – Benjamin Millepied
“‘Swan Lake’ is the most difficult thing to portray for a female ballet dancer; it really requires such specific qualities of articulation, agility, strength, and the arm work is something that takes a lot of training.” – Benjamin Millepied
“Nowadays I actually cook Italian-style food more than French heavy sauces. I make a good salad, some great roasted vegetables, grilled fish. I’m crazy about L.A. because at the farmers’ market you find all kinds of wild mushrooms.” – Benjamin Millepied
“I’m interested in films, in directing.” – Benjamin Millepied
After meeting Natalie on the set of Black Swan, Benjamin Millepied dumped his longtime live-in girlfriend, dancer Isabella Boylston. At the time, they were living in an apartment in NYC’s East Village.
Benjamin Millepied’s ex-girlfriend Isabella Boylston in a Valentino Spring 2017 dress at the premiere of Red Sparrow at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall in New York City on February 26, 2018 (Credit: Dave Bedrosian / Future Image / IPA / KIKA / WENN / Apega / Ivan Nikolov)
In May 2015, the couple joined Lupita Nyong’o in gracing the opening ceremony and the premiere of La Tete Haute (Standing Tall) at the 68th annual Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France.
Natalie Portman wearing De Grisogono drop earrings (Credit: Dave Bedrosian / Future Image / IPA / KIKA / WENN / Apega / Ivan Nikolov)
If Lupita gave us our princess moment, Natalie was the one who brought the old Hollywood glamour.
Natalie Portman at the opening ceremony and premiere of “La Tete Haute” (“Standing Tall”) held during the 68th annual Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, on May 13, 2015 (Credit: Dave Bedrosian / Future Image / IPA / KIKA / WENN / Apega / Ivan Nikolov)
Though predictably in Dior, the 33-year-old actress was a sight for sore eyes in a red strapless column gown.
Natalie Portman posing on the red carpet as husband Benjamin Millepied looks on (Credit: Dave Bedrosian / Future Image / IPA / KIKA / WENN / Apega / Ivan Nikolov)
A notch at the pointed bustline added a bit of an edge, while De Grisogono drop earrings upped the glam factor. Classic waves and neutral-toned makeup kept Natalie’s look clean and elegant.
Husband-and-wife Benjamin Millepied and Natalie Portman on the famous stairs of the Cannes Film Festival (Credit: Dave Bedrosian / Future Image / IPA / KIKA / WENN / Apega / Ivan Nikolov)
While we love Natalie’s look, we were a bit disappointed to see that she repeated the black satin sandals she just wore in her last red carpet appearance.
Closeup of Benjamin Millepied and Natalie Portman’s shoes (Credit: Dave Bedrosian / Future Image / IPA / KIKA / WENN / Apega / Ivan Nikolov)
Not that there’s anything wrong with repeating shoes, but considering this is the Cannes Film Festival, we were hoping for something really special. If Lupita got a custom-made Gucci outfit from head-to-toe, shouldn’t Natalie as Dior’s brand ambassador have gotten one, too?
We found the gold version of Natalie’s shoes last time, so this time, we found this lower-cost alternative on Zappos:
Via Spiga “Tiara” Sandals, $124.98 – $275.00