Natalie Portman, the Oscar-winning actress known for her roles in films like Black Swan and Thor: Love and Thunder, has announced she is expecting her third child. The news, shared in an exclusive interview with Harper’s Bazaar on April 17, 2026, marks her first pregnancy with her partner, French music producer Tanguy Destable. At 44, Portman is embracing this next chapter with a deep sense of gratitude and excitement, while also reflecting on the journey that brought her here.
"Tanguy and I are very excited," Portman told Harper’s Bazaar. "I’m just very grateful. I know it’s such a privilege and a miracle." The actress’s candid remarks underscore both her joy and her awareness of the challenges many face in starting or expanding a family. Portman’s father is a fertility doctor, and she acknowledged, "I grew up hearing about how hard it is to get pregnant. I have so many people I love who’ve had such a hard time with it that I want to be respectful around that as well. It’s such a beautiful, joyous thing, and it’s also not an easy thing. And so I know how lucky it is. I’m very aware, and I’m very grateful. I have deep appreciation and gratitude." (as reported by Page Six and E! News).
This pregnancy, which Portman believes will "probably" be her last, is being cherished in every moment. "There’s a calm [this time] and knowing myself: who I want to spend time with, what kind of energy I want around me," she explained to Harper’s Bazaar. "That makes the experience so beautiful every day." Portman noted that she has "more energy" than she expected while pregnant and is staying active through swimming and gyrotonics, determined to keep strong throughout the months ahead.
Portman’s journey to this point has been marked by significant life changes. She shares two children—Aleph, 14, and Amalia, 9—with her ex-husband, director and choreographer Benjamin Millepied. The couple finalized their divorce in 2024, and Portman was publicly linked to Destable by March 2025, according to PEOPLE and French outlet Voici. Since then, the couple has largely kept their romance out of the limelight, stepping out together only occasionally.
Despite her global fame, Portman has always been fiercely protective of her children’s privacy. "I’m not a particularly private person in real life—I’ll tell you anything—but in public, it was so clear early on that if you tell people how private you are, your privacy gets respected a lot more," she shared in an interview with Interview Magazine. "I set up a little bit of a barrier to be like, 'I’m not going to do photo shoots with my kids.'" Her approach seems to have worked: Aleph and Amalia are rarely seen in the public eye, and Portman is careful to keep details of their lives off social media.
Still, Portman can’t help but beam with pride when it comes to her children’s accomplishments. Earlier this year, she appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to share the news that Aleph had launched his own clothing line, Vanté. "My son, my 14-year-old, started a clothing line called Vanté. I’m very proud of him," she said. "He really just did it all on his own. And so I wore one of his shirts on stage. So I just kind of felt like a banner for him. It was very exciting." (as reported by PEOPLE).
Her children’s influence extends to her career choices as well. In an interview with Variety in 2022, Portman admitted, "I feel like it’s the phase of my career where I’m really trying to just impress my kids." Aleph and Amalia even encouraged her to take the role of Mighty Thor in Thor: Love and Thunder, a testament to the close-knit and supportive family dynamic she fosters.
Motherhood, for Portman, is a constant source of excitement and learning. "My kids are always a source of excitement, because you just see them develop into the individuals they are," she told actress Jenna Ortega in Interview Magazine. "Also, I’ve been spending a lot of time with my friends, with their kids and my kids; that’s pretty fun." These insights reveal how Portman finds joy in the everyday, drawing strength from the simple moments spent with loved ones.
Portman’s perspective on pregnancy and parenting has evolved over time, shaped by both personal experience and the wisdom that comes with age. "There is a gratitude that when you’re young, you don’t necessarily grasp," she admitted to Harper’s Bazaar. "And there’s a calm and knowing myself: who I want to spend time with, what kind of energy I want around me that makes the experience so beautiful every day. And knowing it’s probably the last time, I cherish every moment." She also confessed that, unlike her first pregnancy, she isn’t paying much attention to online commentary or reading as many books about expectant motherhood. "I’m not really looking at social media that much," she said. "I think maybe just having done it twice before… I read so many books the first time, and now I’m like, ‘Oh, we know what to do.’ It’s okay. You figure it out. We’re going to make lots of mistakes, no matter how hard we try. And also, we’re going to do a lot right without having to do research. I feel like if you’re just present and loving, that’s the best thing possible."
Reflecting on her own upbringing and her father’s work as a fertility doctor, Portman is keenly aware of the privilege she enjoys. She is determined to approach this pregnancy with humility and respect for those who struggle with fertility challenges. Her words resonate with many women experiencing pregnancy later in life—a phenomenon that has become increasingly common among celebrities and the broader public. As E! News and PEOPLE have documented, Portman joins a growing list of women who have chosen to expand their families in their 40s, each bringing their own perspective and story to the conversation.
Through it all, Portman remains grounded, focusing on the love and support of her family. In a campaign for Tiffany & Co., she offered advice to her children about inner strength and love: "Always remember, inner strength isn't found. You build it piece by piece. When you find conviction in moments of doubt, when you find certainty in moments of confusion, when you find joy in the everyday... That’s where you’ll find love, one without expectations or conditions. It’s the most important kind, the love for yourself. With love, Mom."
As Natalie Portman prepares to welcome her third child, she does so with a sense of calm, gratitude, and anticipation—qualities that have defined her journey as both an artist and a mother. With her family by her side and a new chapter unfolding, Portman’s story continues to inspire those who value resilience, privacy, and the everyday joys of parenthood.