Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman has expressed annoyance over Rachel Cusk’s upcoming novel Life of M, according to reports citing sources close to the star, who also rejected speculation that the two were close friends or collaborators on the project.
The literary controversy emerged ahead of the book’s scheduled publication on August 25, 2026, in the United States, after commentators highlighted detailed parallels between Cusk’s fictional protagonist, “M,” and Portman’s life and career. In the novel, M is portrayed as a famous former child actor who stars in a ballet film, represents a major luxury brand, lives in a European capital, and leads a celebrity book club.
Crucially, the novel includes storylines in which M reflects on early roles that sexualized her as a child—a subject Portman has publicly discussed regarding her breakout performance in the 1994 film Léon: The Professional. The protagonist also undergoes grueling physical preparation for a ballet role, drawing direct comparisons to Portman’s Academy Award-winning performance in Black Swan (2010).
While Portman has publicly supported Cusk’s work for years, recommending her novels Second Place and Parade through Natalie’s Book Club, sources cited by Page Six emphasized that their connection was limited to a few formal interactions. Representatives clarified that Portman did not consult on the novel, grant permission for private details to be included, or share personal anecdotes with Cusk.
Cusk’s publisher has refrained from characterizing the protagonist as a direct portrait of Portman, describing Life of M as a broader narrative about fame, identity, and the divide between public image and private reality.
This is not the first time Cusk’s narrative use of real people has generated friction. In 2009, her travel memoir The Last Supper: A Summer in Italy was withdrawn from publication following legal action threatened by an individual portrayed in the text.