Natalie Portman Reveals Unusual Way Rihanna Helped Her Deal with Benjamin Millepied Divorce

Natalie Portman will forever be a Rihanna fan!

During an appearance on the Monday, July 15 episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Portman, 43 — who finalized her divorce from her husband Benjamin Millepied, 47, in February — spoke about meeting the "Umbrella" hitmaker, 36, at Paris Fashion Week in January.

In a sweet interaction shared by Bustle on Instagram at the time, Rihanna called Portman "one of the hottest bitches in Hollywood."

Speaking to Fallon on Monday, the May December star insisted, "I think every woman going through a divorce should get to have Rihanna say to her that she's a bad bitch." Fallon then got to his feet and gave Portman some loud applause, before showing a clip of the fashion week interaction.

"It was exactly what I needed," Portman added.

"That's a big deal," Fallon commented, as the Black Swan star replied, "It was a formative moment in my life."

In the video shared earlier this year taken outside of the Dior Haute Couture show in the French capital, Portman told Rihanna, “I love you,” as the singer reciprocated: “I am a f---ing fan.”

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Portman insisted, "I’m gonna faint. I’m gonna black out,” as the two continued to praise one another.

The Oscar winner added, “I love you and I listen to your music all the time… -

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you’re just such a queen. Thank you.”

Portman shared a photo on Instagram of the pair hugging at the time. "Still not over this… ???? @badgalriri," she captioned the post.

Portman's latest comments come after PEOPLE exclusively confirmed in March that she and her husband of 11 years, Millepied, had officially divorced after quietly separating eight months prior.

Portman filed last July and the divorce was finalized in February in France, where she and Millepied, whom she married in 2012, had been living with their children; son Aleph, 13, and daughter Amalia, 7.

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In June 2023, a source told PEOPLE that Millepied had made an "enormous mistake" amid rumors of his extramarital affair, but they were trying to work through their marital problems.

A friend of the couple then told PEOPLE in March regarding the pair's divorce, "It was initially really tough for her, but her friends rallied around her and helped get her through the worst of it."

"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," the source added.

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