Natalie Portman’s former husband is Benjamin Millepied, the French dancer and choreographer she met while making Black Swan. They married in August 2012, welcomed two children together and finalized their divorce in February 2024.
Although searches for “Natalie Portman husband” still bring up photographs and interviews from their marriage, Millepied should now be identified as her ex-husband. More recent reporting has linked the actress to French musician and producer Tanguy Destable.
Portman and Millepied’s relationship began during one of the most important films of her career. Their professional connection developed into a romance, followed by parenthood, marriage and years spent balancing work in the United States and France.
Their story includes affectionate public appearances and creative collaborations, but it also has a clear ending. Here is a closer look at their relationship, their children and the timeline of their separation.
Who Is Benjamin Millepied?
Benjamin Millepied is a French dancer, choreographer and filmmaker whose career was established before he became widely known as Portman’s partner.
He performed as a principal dancer with New York City Ballet and later became director of dance at the Paris Opera Ballet. His work has also included L.A. Dance Project and choreography for film.
For audiences outside the ballet world, his involvement in Black Swan introduced him to a much larger public. He was hired to choreograph the production and help prepare Portman for the physical demands of playing a ballet dancer.
That assignment brought together two people working in different artistic fields. Portman had an established film career, while Millepied’s background centred on dance and choreography.
Their relationship grew through the time they spent working together, rather than through a formal introduction arranged away from their careers.
How Natalie Portman Met Her Former Husband
Portman and Millepied met during the production of Black Swan in 2009.
Preparing for the role required Portman to train extensively, and Millepied became part of that process. Their connection developed as he helped her learn the movement and discipline required for the film.
In a later SiriusXM interview, Portman remembered the experience with warmth. She explained that getting to know him gradually was an important part of falling in love.
Her description suggested a relationship that grew through shared time and familiarity. Although the film itself involved intense psychological material, she recalled their personal connection as an enjoyable part of the production.
By early 2010, they were being photographed together away from the set. Those sightings included ordinary outings, such as lunch and walks with her dog.
Their Engagement and First Pregnancy
In December 2010, Portman’s representatives confirmed that she and Millepied were engaged and expecting their first child.
The announcement came after approximately a year of dating. Rather than revealing every detail about the proposal, they shared the broader news while keeping much of the experience private.
Millepied worked with jewellery designer Jamie Wolf on Portman’s engagement ring. According to Wolf’s account, the design incorporated recycled platinum and an antique diamond, reflecting considerations important to the actress.
That detail gave the announcement a personal dimension beyond the ring’s appearance. The designer described Millepied as closely involved in making sure the finished piece suited Portman.
For her part, Portman expressed happiness and gratitude while acknowledging that she usually preferred to keep her personal life out of public discussion.
Their Appearance at the 2011 Oscars
Portman and Millepied attended the Academy Awards together in February 2011, shortly after announcing their engagement.
The evening was particularly significant because Portman won best actress for Black Swan. Her professional achievement was closely connected to the production where their relationship had begun.
During her acceptance speech, she thanked Millepied and acknowledged both his choreography and their impending parenthood.
The Oscars brought several milestones together: recognition for her performance, a public appearance with her fiancé and the anticipation of becoming a mother.
Their red carpet photographs became some of the most familiar images from the early part of their relationship. However, the wedding itself was still more than a year away.
Their Son Aleph Arrived in 2011
Portman and Millepied welcomed their son, Aleph, in June 2011.
His arrival made them parents before they married. The couple shared the news publicly but did not turn their child’s early life into a continuous series of media updates.
That approach continued as their family grew. While Portman occasionally discussed motherhood, she generally kept her children’s everyday experiences separate from her professional publicity.
Aleph’s birth also marked a change in the couple’s priorities as they balanced parenting with demanding creative careers. Portman continued acting, while Millepied maintained his work in dance.
Details about their private routines remained limited, and later photographs or interviews cannot provide a complete account of how they organized family life.
Their Wedding in Big Sur
Portman and Millepied married on August 4, 2012, at an oceanfront property in Big Sur, California.
The Jewish ceremony took place after dark, with family and friends gathered for the celebration. Portman wore a Rodarte gown, and the couple exchanged vows beneath a chuppah.
The wedding incorporated personal choices that reflected the actress’s values. Guests were served a vegan meal, while packets of wildflower seeds were given as favours.
Their son was already part of their lives by then, making the wedding a further milestone in an established family relationship.
The coastal setting also gave the occasion a different atmosphere from their public appearances at awards ceremonies. It was a private celebration, even though details later attracted considerable interest.
Moving to Paris for Millepied’s Career
In 2014, the family relocated to Paris after Millepied accepted a leadership position at the Paris Opera Ballet.
For Portman, the move meant adjusting to life in France while continuing an international acting career. She spoke positively about the opportunity, describing Paris as somewhere many people dream of living.
Their time there also illustrated how Millepied’s career influenced the family’s decisions. He had substantial professional responsibilities of his own, separate from being married to a film star.
Portman attended ballet events in support of his work, including the company’s opening-season gala in September 2015.
Millepied stepped down from his position in 2016, and the family subsequently returned to the United States. Portman later discussed some of the everyday cultural differences she noticed after returning to Los Angeles.
Welcoming Their Daughter Amalia
Portman and Millepied welcomed their daughter, Amalia, on February 22, 2017.
The actress’s representative confirmed the birth afterward, reporting that mother and baby were doing well. Amalia joined older brother Aleph, making Portman and Millepied parents of two.
During the pregnancy, the couple had continued attending selected public events. At an L.A. Dance Project gala, Millepied briefly discussed how they managed busy schedules, saying they worked to organize their lives and find happiness together.
His comments offered a small glimpse of their approach at that time. They did not reveal the full practical arrangements behind their careers and parenting.
The children have remained an important part of their shared family history, both during the marriage and after its end.
Working Together While Keeping Separate Careers
Although Black Swan brought them together, Millepied later explained that he and Portman generally maintained distinct professional lives.
In a 2016 interview with Vanity Fair, he spoke about partners learning from one another while also keeping their work separate.
That distinction made sense for two artists whose careers involved different skills and institutions. Their interests overlapped, but each had an independent professional identity.
Public appearances often showed them supporting one another, whether at film events, dance galas or awards ceremonies.
Those moments belong to the history of their relationship as it was then. Their later divorce does not make every earlier expression of support insincere, nor does it explain everything that happened privately.
When Did Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied Divorce?
Portman quietly filed for divorce in July 2023. The divorce was finalized in France in February 2024, with confirmation becoming public the following month.
Their separation followed reports alleging that Millepied had an extramarital affair. Those allegations formed part of the coverage surrounding the breakup, but the former couple did not provide a detailed public account of every issue within their marriage.
It would therefore be inaccurate to invent private conversations or present assumptions about their relationship as established facts.
The confirmed timeline is that Portman and Millepied married in 2012, separated during 2023 and completed their divorce in February 2024.
Their marriage lasted approximately 11 years. They remain the parents of Aleph and Amalia, although detailed information about their parenting arrangements has not been publicly shared.
Natalie Portman’s Relationship After Divorce
More recent reporting identifies French music producer Tanguy Destable, professionally known as Tepr, as Portman’s partner.
Their relationship became public in 2025. Reporting in September 2026 stated that they had welcomed their first child together, making Portman a mother of three.
That development should be kept separate from her former marriage. Destable is described as her partner, while Millepied is her ex-husband.
For readers seeking a clear answer, the distinction is straightforward: Benjamin Millepied was Natalie Portman’s husband from 2012 until their divorce in 2024. Their relationship began on Black Swan, brought them two children and remains a significant chapter in her family history.