In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Oscar winner and former rapper Natalie Portman spoke about her new film A Tale of Love and Darkness, which premiered at Cannes this year. The film was shot in Israel, and Portman, who was born in Jerusalem, says that “connections to her Jewish heritage remain strong”—but also that she’s getting sick and tired of discussing “Netanyahu and U.S. foreign policy” with reporters.
“I get asked so many questions about the Middle East, and I’m like ‘Can you please just ask me about my dress? Let’s just talk about the dress!’” she says, half-laughing. So while many actresses are busy hashtagging #AskHerMore and trying to dodge questions about their manicures and motherhood, Portman is asking for less? Though gender inequality is obviously very real, she says she can understand the temptation to focus on fashion. “I like to look at what people are wearing, but I do see the sexism in it,” she says. “Yeah, you could reject it all, but I don’t know anyone who has done that and been able to maintain the level of work I’d like to maintain.”
You know what, Natalie? I get it. In a world where everything celebrities say is scrutinized and pull quotes can often remove any sense of context, I get it.