Rachel Cusk’s “Life of M”: A Novel That Mirrors Natalie Portman—or Not?

Rachel Cusk’s forthcoming novel *Life of M* has become a flashpoint in literary circles. The book, which will be released on August 25, depicts a young actress whose career trajectory and personal history closely echo those of Oscar-winner Natalie Portman. Media outlets have debated whether the work is a thinly veiled portrait of the actress or a broader fictional exercise.

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Cusk, a leading figure in autofiction, has previously explored the blurred line between author and subject in works such as *Outline* and *A Life’s Work*. She and Portman have intersected publicly: Portman interviewed Cusk for her Instagram book club in 2022, and Cusk appeared in Portman’s book club again in 2024. Their shared presence in Parisian literary circles has fueled speculation that Cusk could draw on personal knowledge of the actress.

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*Life of M* presents a protagonist who:

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• Began acting as a child, with a debut role that later generated controversy over sexualized scenes—mirroring Portman’s early work in *Léon: The Professional*.

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• Took a hiatus from acting in 1999 to attend Harvard, a detail that aligns with Portman’s real-life academic break.

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• Achieved “new kind of glory” after portraying a vulnerable ballerina, an unmistakable nod to Portman’s acclaimed performance in *Black Swan*.

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• Lives in a nameless European city with a large river, widely read as a reference to Paris, where both women have spent significant time.

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The novel also includes a scene where the protagonist watches a film about a school-shooting pop star—a clear allusion to the 2018 musical drama *Vox Lux*, in which Portman starred.

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Portman’s representatives have declined to comment directly to the press. The same source suggested Portman is more preoccupied with global concerns, such as the fires in France, and with her pregnancy, than with the novel’s portrayal.

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Cusk herself has not issued a public statement about the speculation. In the novel’s concluding pages, the narrator acknowledges that the character “was invented by me,” implying that the work may be more about the author’s own preoccupations than about any real person.

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*The Telegraph* labeled the book a “literary assassination” of Portman, describing it as “cruel.” An embargo-breaking report in *UnHerd* called the novel a “dark portrait” of the actress. *Vanity Fair* noted that the gossip surrounding the book was amplified by the conservative outlet’s coverage, but concluded that the novel “isn’t actually about Portman.”

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These critiques focus on the ethical implications of depicting a living public figure in an unflattering light, especially when the portrayal suggests emotional emptiness and sociopathic traits.

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Media interpretations diverge sharply. Some outlets, citing the novel’s explicit parallels, argue that *Life of M* is a thinly veiled critique of Portman. Others, including *Vanity Fair*, maintain that the work uses Portman’s public persona only as a cultural reference point, not as a literal target. No direct comment from Cusk or Portman’s camp clarifies the author’s intent, leaving the true degree of biographical intent unresolved.

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*Life of M* will be available to readers on August 25. The release will likely reignite debate over the boundaries of autofiction and the responsibilities of authors when fictionalizing recognizable public figures.

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