Natalie Portman Talks Her ‘May December’ ‘Dream Role’ and Warning Child Actors About Working in Hollywood: ‘It Was ‘Luck That I Was Not Harmed’
variety.comClayton Davis Senior Awards Editor Natalie Portman calls Todd Haynes’ new film, “May December,” a “dream role.” “May December” stars Portman as actress Elizabeth Berry (Portman), who is set to portray Gracie Atherton-Yoo (Julianne Moore) in a movie.
Gracie is a Georgia woman who became a notorious tabloid figure when she engaged in a sexual relationship with a 12-year-old boy, Joe. (Yes, this is loosely based on the story of teacher Mary Kay Letourneau, who had an affair with and married her teenage student, Vili Fualaau.) Twenty years have passed, and Gracie is trying to move on from the scandal.
But to prepare for her upcoming role, Elizabeth visits Gracie and Joe (Charles Melton), who is now 36. The couple is still together, married with children, but Elizabeth’s arrival exposes the fractures beneath their carefully constructed surface. “There are so many refractions that all mirrors the work Todd put into it,” Portman says. “How you see the characters with Samy [Burch]’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.” On this landmark 200th episode of the award-winning Variety Awards Circuit Podcast, Portman discusses her performance in the Netflix dark comedy.
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