By George & Josh Bate
Natalie Portman has been a Hollywood star for more than three decades, but for Star Wars fans, she will always be Padmé Amidala. Cast as the young queen-turned-senator in George Lucas’ prequel trilogy, Portman became part of one of cinema’s most enduring franchises while still a teenager. Since then, she has built an acclaimed career far beyond the galaxy far, far away, earning an Academy Award for Black Swan and starring in hit films like Thor, V for Vendetta, and No Strings Attached.
Now, Portman is at the center of an unexpected literary controversy.
Rachel Cusk’s new novel, Life of M, follows a famous actress known only as “M” and a writer who sets out to chronicle her life. While Cusk has not confirmed that the character is based on Portman, the similarities have sparked widespread speculation.
Like Portman, M became famous as a child, later starred in a ballet-focused film (as Portman did with Vox Lux) and built a life in Paris (as Portman did with her children and ex-husband).
The controversy surrounding Life of M goes beyond the similarities between M and Portman. Cusk’s fictional actress is portrayed in a rather unflattering manner. M is outwardly charming and polite, but the novel repeatedly suggests that her warmth is performative and that she is emotionally disconnected from the people around her. The narrator portrays her as someone who is constantly watching herself and managing how others perceive her, rather than experiencing life naturally.
Perhaps most damaging is the suggestion that M is incapable of genuine emotion or love. Her relationships with other people, including her kids, are distanced, while even moments of grief or vulnerability are presented as opportunities for her to perform the appropriate emotion. Critics have described the portrait as dehumanizing, particularly because of the striking similarities between M’s fictional biography and Portman’s real life.
That helps explain why the connection has reportedly been uncomfortable for Portman. Although she has not publicly condemned the novel, reports say she was offended or annoyed by the implication that M represents her. Sources close to the actress have emphasized that the character bears little resemblance to Portman’s actual personality or private life.
The connection is particularly intriguing because Portman and Cusk have publicly admired one another’s work. Portman has featured Cusk’s novels through her book club and has praised the author’s approach to storytelling.
Cusk is known for autofiction (i.e., a style that blurs the line between lived experience and fiction). Life of M takes that idea even further, exploring fame, identity and the difficulty of truly knowing another person.
Neither Cusk nor Portman has publicly confirmed that M is Portman. The speculation, however, has made Life of M one of the most talked-about literary releases of the summer.