The “Coolest thing” That Happened When Natalie Portman Met Mark Hamill
Actress Natalie Portman started her professional career at the age of twelve and went on to gain international recognition when she starred in Star Wars. She portrayed the character of Padmé Amidala in 1999’s Star Wars: Episode I- The Phantom Menace. Portman continued to appear as Padmé Amidala in Star Wars prequel trilogy; Star Wars: Episode II- Attack of Clones and Star Wars: Episode III- Revenge of the Sith.
Padmé Amidala was introduced as the teenage Queen of Naboo who secretly married Anakin Skywalker. She dies while giving birth to twins Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa. Natalie Portman did not film or meet with the actors who later went on to play Luke and Leia in the franchise until at the 81st Golden Globes. Let’s find out more about this special reunion.
Natalie Portman on meeting Mark Hamill at Golden Globes 2024
Actress Natalie Portman, who portrayed the character of Padmé Amidala in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, was revealed as the mother of Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa. Mark Hamill played the character of Luke Skywalker in the franchise, but the two actors never met or filmed a single scene together despite being related in the franchise. But the 81st Golden Globes made it possible for them to have their mother-son moment.
Natalie Portman appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live, where she revealed her experience of meeting Mark Hamill for the first time. She said,
“I met Mark Hamill for my first time and he called me his mother and I was like oh it’s the coolest thing. It was the first time we have ever met, I had met Carrie Fisher before. She’s such an icon of mine and it was my first ever time meeting him.”
The actor had also taken to his social media to share the beautiful moment as he posted a picture of the two of them with a caption,
“Now I have finally met my ‘mother’, thanks to the Golden Globes.”
The actress also noted that she met Martin Short at the Golden Globes and lost her mind. She added that he was delightful. Portman was nominated for her performance in May December under the category Best Actress in a Motion Picture-Comedy or Musical, which Emma Stone won for Poor Things.
Also read: “They don’t need to tell those stories”: Mark Hamill Wants Star Wars to Move on From Skywalker Saga
Natalie Portman calls May December her ‘dream role’
Portman, along with Julianne Moore and Charles Melton, has been the talk of the town for their movie May December, which was released in December 2023. The movie is based on a story by Samy Burch and Alex Mechanik, which is loosely inspired by the Mary Kay Letourneau scandal. It was named one of the top movies of 2023, with the actors’ performance being lauded by the critics and the audience.
During her interview at Variety’s Award Circuit Podcast, Portman said,
“There are so many references that all mirror the work Todd put into it. How you see the characters with Samy’s writing, where it switches as soon as you think you know something about them. You’re never sure or comfortable about who you’re supposed to be feeling. It was just a gift to get to do.”
Natalie Portman calls working on May December as her dream role. In an interview with Deadline, she was asked about her approach toward characters, to which she said;
“I think my approach is similar to a journalist’s or documentarian’s when you’re telling a story that is true, that is a real story. You try and not get involved in it, even though there is the inevitable aspect that it’s being told already affects the course of the story—the fact that it’s being documented, being publisized—even if it’s as faithful to the source possible.”
Natalie Portman revealed that the makeup scene in the movie has been the most moving scene for her, adding that it was most revelatory. She said it wasn’t the words but the silence between them that holds power.
May December is streaming on Netflix.
