How Natalie Portman got her ‘smile back’ amidst divorce and Paul Mescal dating rumors

Following her divorce from Benjamin Millepied, Natalie Portman is reclaiming her power and embracing life as a single woman.

“Natalie is her confident self [again],” a source disclosed to Us Weekly, noting that Portman, 42, appears to have a "lighter step" and "more joy" in her eyes since finalizing her divorce from Millepied in March.

According to the insider, the Black Swan actress, who has a 12-year-old son, Aleph, and a 7-year-old daughter, Amalia, with Millepied, 46, is beginning to prioritize her own needs.

“It took her a while to get her smile back after the divorce, but she has turned a corner,” the source says about Portman, who was recently seen laughing with 28-year-old actor Paul Mescal outside a London bar on May 28.

Portman made news last month when she was photographed with 28-year-old Mescal at 69 Colebrooke Row in Islington, England. The pair were seen smiling and sharing a smoke outside the bar, as shown in photos acquired by Page Six.

“She’s really coming into her own self-happiness,” the insider tells Us, noting that although Portman has been spending time with Mescal, she isn't currently dating.

Portman is “focused on her kids and work for now,” the source adds, mentioning that she has “started going out with friends and living her best life.”

Since her split from Millepied last year, 2024 has brought significant positive changes for Portman.

In August 2023, Us Weekly confirmed the couple's separation after 11 years of marriage, spurred by rumors of infidelity on Millepied’s part that surfaced in June. 

Millepied allegedly had an affair with 26-year-old climate activist Camille Étienne.

Although Portman felt "humiliated and completely devastated" by the way her marriage ended, the source revealed in January that she was prepared to "prioritize herself."

Two months later, the former couple completed their divorce proceedings and opted to take the mature approach for the sake of their children.