Natalie Portman's Husband Benjamin Millepied Reveals He's Converting to Judaism

Choreographer announced the plans in an Israeli newspaper

By Lily Harrison Jan 30, 2014 9:38 PMTags
Natalie Portman, Benjamin MillepiedJamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Mazel tov!

Natalie Portman's husband, Benjamin Millepied, just revealed that he's in the midst of converting to Judaism.

In an interview with Israeli newspaper Yediot Acharanot this week, the ballet choreographer explained that becoming Jewish is "very important" to him.

Natalie, Benjamin and their son Aleph are all in Israel until March as she's working on casting her directorial debut, A Tale of Love and Darkness.

The drama is based on the memoir of Amos Oz, an Israeli author who advocated a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian crisis.

Portman was born in Jerusalem but moved to the United States when she was just three years old.

Natalie and Benjamin, who met while shooting Black Swan, were married in a Jewish ceremony in Big Sur in August 2012.

The family is planning on packing their bags and moving to Paris at the end of this year because Benjamin has just been named Director of Dance at the Paris Opera Ballet. Impressive!

And despite loving the West Coast, the Oscar winner explained that she's excited at the opportunity to call the City of Light her new home.

"I'm really lucky," she adds. "When Ben asked me if I wanted to go to Paris, I freaked. Everyone dreams of living in Paris."

Portman has since stated in numerous interviews that she's working on becoming fluent in French ahead of her arrival.