Natalie Portman Reflects on Why Diane Keaton Inspired Her in Lumière Masterclass: ‘She Let Women Be Weird on Screen’

During a sold-out masterclass at the Lumière Film Festival in Lyon, France, Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Diane Keaton, who passed away on October 11 at the age of 79.

Speaking to a packed audience at the Pathé Bellecour theater, Portman reflected on the women who inspired her career and explained how Keaton profoundly shaped her view of female characters on screen.

“She gave female characters the opportunity to be as complex as the male characters we commonly see. They were neurotic, they were funny, they were smart, they were emotional, they were weird. She let women be weird on screen,” Portman said. “She was someone who was unapologetically herself, and you fell in love with her because of that.”

Honoring a Creative Force

Portman’s admiration for Diane Keaton was part of a larger conversation about her artistic influences. She also mentioned Gena Rowlands, Julianne Moore, Isabelle Huppert, and Nicole Kidman as performers she deeply respects.

As one of this year’s guests of honor, Portman captivated the sold-out crowd. Queues stretched far outside the theater as fans hoped for a chance to hear her reflect on a career that moves seamlessly between Hollywood blockbusters and intimate auteur cinema.

A Career of Depth and Curiosity

Portman shared that she founded her own production company to “create the movies that I want to see in the world, that I want to participate in.” She admitted she grew up watching mainstream hits like The Lion King, Mrs. Doubtfire, Dirty Dancing, and Pretty Woman, only later discovering cinematic history through collaborations with directors such as John Cassavetes, Michael Haneke, Wong Kar-wai, and Robert Bresson.

She reflected on her early acting experiences, starting at age 12 with Luc Besson’s Léon: The Professional, and described acting as “the most childlike thing to do… all children are actors.” Her academic path, which included attending Harvard University after filming Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, added a psychological lens to her craft.

“It’s really the same practice,” she said. “It’s the same question: why do people do what they do? What is someone feeling at any given moment? Observation, observation, observation.”

Lifelong Curiosity and Collaboration

Portman described her deep research methods for roles, from studying Anne Boleyn extensively for The Other Boleyn Girl to watching hours of documentaries for Jackie. She humorously added, “When I had to learn what a K-hole looked like… I wasn’t going to do ketamine to learn that, so I went to YouTube.”

She also discussed her work as a producer and her growing interest in animation, highlighting her collaboration with French director Ugo Bienvenu on Arco, which won top honors at the Annecy Festival.

Praising Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky, Portman highlighted the value of collaboration:

“He has such confidence in his vision, but he’ll always take someone else’s good idea. That combination of confidence and humility — that’s what marks greatness.”

A Lasting Legacy

As the conversation ended, Portman was asked what advice she’d give her 12-year-old self before filming Léon. Her answer was simple and poignant:

“Play, have fun.”

The festival is also hosting a retrospective of Portman’s work, featuring Heat, V for Vendetta, Black Swan, and Jackie.

The Lumière Film Festival runs until October 19, celebrating cinema’s greats — and this year, honoring both Natalie Portman’s contributions and the enduring legacy of Diane Keaton. 🕊️🎬