‘He was a genuine feminist’: Natalie Portman claims that late director Mike Nichols was the ‘only older man’ to be his mentor without being ‘scary’
Natalie Portman says the late Mike Nichols was the only older male mentor she had who was not “scary”.
The 39-year-old actress was only 19 when she worked with the late director for the first time in a production of The Seagull before starring in him in the film adaptation of Patrick Marber for the play Closer in 2004.
Since then, she has considered Nichols – who died in 2014 at the age of 83 – a “genuine feminist”, whose perspective sets him apart from other directors of his generation.
Opening: Natalie Portman says the late Mike Nichols was the only older male mentor she had who was not “scary” (photo together in 2007)
In the new book by author Mark Harris, Mike Nichols: A Life, Natalie says he was “the only older man who mentored me without ever having a scary element in it.”
She added: “I think he was a genuine feminist. There was nothing, nothing, nothing there, except that he saw him as a creative, interesting and talented human being.
“It is the rarest and most excellent quality, and few directors of its generation had it.”
Old times: the actress was only 19 when she worked with the late director for the first time in the production of A Gaivota (photo)
Working relationship: she starred for him in a film adaptation of Patrick Marber, playing Closer in 2004 (photo)
The author recalled how “protective” the celebrated director was towards Natalie when it came to shooting a scene at a strip club for Closer.
He wrote: ‘With Portman, Nichols was careful and protective, especially in the wake of the strip club, for which, at her request, he was happy to eliminate some nudity.
“He wants to see my naked ass [even] less than my father would do, “said Portman at the time.
Close: In Mark Harris’ new book, Mike Nichols: A Life, Natalie says he was “the only older man who mentored me without ever having a scary element to him” (portrayed with Nichols and the Closer cast in 2004)
‘[Nichols] made sure [Portman] she was comfortable with the angles, the costumes and the movement, and accompanied her through the scene until she felt ready.
” What did he do for me … ‘she says. “Sir, may I have the ability to offer that kind of guidance and guidance to someone else.”
The actress had previously admitted that starring in films like The Professional and Beautiful Girls as a young teenager led her to be more careful when expressing herself “sexually” because of people’s reactions.
She said: ‘I understood very quickly, even at the age of 13, that if I were to express myself sexually I would feel insecure and that men would feel entitled to discuss and objectify my body to my great discomfort.
‘I felt the need to cover my body and inhibit my expression and my work to send my own message to the world that I am someone worthy of security and respect.’
Praise: ‘I think he was a genuine feminist. There was nothing, nothing, nothing there, except that he saw her as a creative, interesting and talented human, ”she said.