Natalie Portman Says Going Vegan Changed Her Skin
BALANCING ACT
The character I play in the new Miss Dior campaign is seeking her own wild ride. She’s closer to myself than most characters I play in films and the woman I want to be. It’s great that at this time, women are owning their pleasure versus wanting to smell good for other people.
PERFUME AS COUTURE
I’ve visited the rose fields in Provence with François Demachy, the nose for all Dior scents. The roses bloom for only a few short weeks, and women handpick the flowers during that time. So much care and human touch goes into every bottle (4, $80). It’s an art.
CHARACTER STUDY
Fragrance helps get me into character. When I was filming Star Wars: Episode II in Tunisia, the marketplaces were full of fresh jasmine (5). It had the most incredible scent. There’s a real sense of wonder and romance connected to that place in my mind.
FAVORITE ONSCREEN BEAUTY LOOKS
Star Wars—the queen’s makeup (7) was inspired by Kabuki—and Black Swan (3). When I see people on Halloween in the costumes, I think, Okay, that was impactful.
BEING A PUBLIC FIGURE
The most rewarding part is using my platform to give attention to bigger, more meaningful issues. I work with a number of different women’s organizations, including A New Way of Life, which works with formerly incarcerated women in Los Angeles, getting them housing and reuniting them with their children.
ESSENTIAL BEAUTY PRODUCTS
Rouge Dior in 999 (9, $38) is my favorite lipstick for going out. For hair, I love Christophe Robin rose shampoo (1, $38). Then I use Leonor Greyl hair balm (6, $56). It smells amazing. With that, I can let my hair dry naturally. It gives it a nice wave, and it doesn’t look like a frizzy disaster!
RECOMMENDED READING
Some of my recent favorites have been Jenny Offill’s book Weather (8) and Rachel Cusk’s Outline trilogy, and I just finished Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel Whereabouts, which I loved.
GOING VEGAN
Once I became vegan, my skin got great. Some of my favorite foods are bean and vegetable tacos (2), chips and guacamole, phyllo-dough puff pastries, and oat-milk cappuccinos. Also, I don’t drink much—not more than a glass of wine. Maybe it’s part of getting older.
This article originally appeared in the September 2021 issue of Harper's BAZAAR, available on newsstands today.
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