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Natalie Portman Calls Rachel Cusk’s “Life of M” Annoying

8/17/2026

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Summary

Story summary

In France, actress Natalie Portman called writer Rachel Cusk’s Life of M “annoying” and said they are not friends.
Insiders say they have met five or six times and do not socialize.
Life of M releases in the United States on August 25, with the publisher saying it explores fame and identity, not a direct portrait of Portman.

History

Historical Context

Chris Rojek’s 1995 book *Celebrity Culture*—a 320-page study that sold more than 50,000 copies—mapped fame’s mechanisms just as academia began legitimizing the field with the 2010 launch of the *Celebrity Studies* journal. The journal’s early controversy mirrors today’s literary push-back, exemplified by Portman’s dismissal of Rachel Cusk’s August 25 novel, underscoring enduring tensions between celebrity and criticism.

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Story summary

In France, actress Natalie Portman called writer Rachel Cusk’s Life of M “annoying” and said they are not friends.
Insiders say they have met five or six times and do not socialize.
Life of M releases in the United States on August 25, with the publisher saying it explores fame and identity, not a direct portrait of Portman.

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