Everything We Know About Natalie Portman’s Former Husband, Benjamin Millepied

Millepied was born on June 10, 1977, in Bordeaux, France. The youngest of three sons, he began ballet training at the age of eight with his mom, who was a ballet dancer. He went on to continue his studies at the Conservatoir National in Lyon, France.

In 2022, he directed his first feature-length movie, Carmen, and credited Portman with helping him prepare. “Just being on set and seeing directors work with [Natalie] and other actors was very helpful, for sure. Seeing just how every director has a different way to achieve interesting performances,” he told Us Weekly. “I think … the toughest part of the journey was really understanding why I was so attracted to making film as an artist … then now as a director and working on the script and then working with actors.”

Portman’s former husband continued his ballet education at the School of American Ballet and eventually moved from France to the U.S. to join New York City Ballet’s corps de ballet in 1995. He became a soloist in 1998 and the principal dancer in 2002. From there, he became a choreographer for the Metropolitan Opera, American Ballet Theater, the School of American Ballet, the Paris Opera Ballet and more.

He retired from his role at New York City Ballet in 2011 and founded L.A. Dance Project immediately following. The company’s inaugural performance was held a year later at Walt Disney Concert Hall. The company went on to be extremely successful, but he eventually moved on to Paris Opera Ballet as the director of dance. Amidst all this, in 2009, he served as the choreographer of Black Swan starring Portman and...guess what happened?

Portman and Millepied met while filming Black Swan and started a relationship shortly after. During a SiriusXM interview, Portman said, “I met my husband on it, so I think I was in, like, dreamland… We had a whole, like, he was teaching me to dance. You know, one of those romantic [stories]… It was definitely exciting and fun. It was beautiful. I don't know about instant. It was like I really got to know him and that was when it seemed like, ‘Oh, this is the person.’”

They welcomed their son, Aleph Millepied-Portman on June 14, 2011, and married in August of 2012. From there, Millepied converted to Judaism for Portman and the family moved from Paris to Los Angeles in 2016. Portman gave birth to their second child, Amalia Millepied-Portman, on February 22, 2017.

In 2023, Millepied was accused of having an affair. Although they tried to work on their relationship, People magazine confirmed that their divorce was finalized as of March 2024. 

“It was initially really tough for her, but her friends rallied around her and helped get her through the worst of it,” a source told the mag. “Natalie is coming out of a really tough and painful year but she’s come out the other side of it stronger and is finding joy in her family, friends and work.”