Natalie Portman Defends Hillary Clinton

Natalie Portman graces the April cover of Elle magazine to promote her period flick "The Other Boleyn Girl." Whole interview here.

Highlights:

On Hillary Clinton:

A lot of the stuff people say about her, I hear it and my stomach falls because it's so sexist. You ask people why they don't like her and it's because her husband cheated on her! That was obviously not her choice. She's so much more polished and experienced than anyone else. Last night, a friend, a social worker in L.A. who works with underprivileged kids, was saying how these girls who have never been interested in politics before are so excited that a woman might be president. I mean, look how many women are in government...Hillary's one of, what, [a handful of] female senators?

I also like Obama. I even like McCain. I disagree with his war stance--which is a really big deal--but I think he's a very moral person. I met him and Hillary on the same day, actually, when I went to Washington with Finca [a nonprofit that gives loans to businesswomen in developing countries]. Hillary was by far the smartest person I met that day. Just totally focused, and knew more about the issues than anyone else, and was so able to go from one thing to the other.

On starting her own production company:

It is proactive. It gives you more control over creating things, as opposed to having to get hired every single time. After you've worked for so long it's kind of annoying to have to be dependent in that way. With acting, getting work can be very passive. You're sort of subject to the whims and fashions of your moment. I've been working 15 years, and I know some years I get everything first and some years I read only uninteresting parts. I didn't want to just be at the mercy of whoever is making those decisions. Having your own company is a nice way to concentrate your ideas and make the kinds of movies you want to see.

Comments

[Politiking]

I love Natalie Portman. One of the most well-balanced, smart, beautiful and sincere individuals I have ever met.

[StanTheManic]

Natalie is intelligent, active, involved. Presidential material herself? Nope -- not born here in the U S of A. Too bad.

[Diva2U]

Natalie Portman defends Hillary Clinton. Natalie Portman also likes Obama. Natalie Portman also likes John McCain. I guess Natalie Portman likes everyone. At a time when our country is so polarized and divided over an illegal war, immigration, racism and the growing disparity between rich and poor, how can she like everyone? Does Ms.Portman consider the 40 million people who have no health insurance? She certainly doesn't have to worry about that. How can John McCain who offers no health initiative to deal with this disgrace be 'a moral person"? She disagrees with his stance on the war...but he is still a very moral person? How can offering up the lives of almost 4000 soldiers and countless innocent Iraqis for oil be considered moral? I would venture that Ms, Portman doesn't think deeply about these issues before being given a public forum in a national magazine. Let her talk about her latest bodice ripper movie release and her production company or her skin care regimen but please, stay away from politics.

[Dendroica]

She's talking about her affiliation with a microloan company.

Can't you read, or do you just think bitching a lot will make sense?

[Nicolaus]

Confused Ms. Portman have just been announced by a posting above as 'Presidential Material.'

[Spinsterina]

Cut out the caffeine. Take a nap.
Then see if you can think of one nice thing to say about the next person you run into.
You need an attitude adjustment. Seriously.

[Merckx]

I agree with Natalie. We have three strong candidates, but of the three, Hillary is the best.

[snesich]

I agree. The bit about "liking" John McCain and considering him a "moral person" is awful. Portman is either very, very concerned about being a "nice girl" or isn't really thinking things out, at least in this instance. Everything I've read about her makes her appear to be a very intelligent and thoughtful human being. She doesn't show a lot of it with these comments, however.