Natalie Portman Says the Key to Clear Skin Is Either Veganism or Turning 30

Natalie Portman, the rightful recipient of last year’s Academy Award for Best Actress (of the five nominated performances, at least), spoke with The Cut about “Hollywood beauty standards and the quest for perfection.” Like most interviews about Hollywood beauty standards and the quest for perfection, it began with the question, “What was your first scent memory?”

For the answer to that question, you’ll have to click here, because this morning’s Dirt Bag isn’t about what Portman does or doesn’t remember smelling, it’s about what she does or doesn’t credit with her acne-free complexion.

When asked to share her nighttime beauty routine, Portman said:

I’m vegan and I found my skin is much, much better than when I was a vegetarian. I cut out dairy and eggs, and I never had a breakout after. That was definitely a discovery. It’s personal; everyone has different sensitivity. I also did it when I was 30, so it might have been an age thing.

Portman’s observation that her skin cleared up after becoming a vegan was measured and reasonable; she shared a personal anecdote without framing it as advice others should follow. Qualifying that with “it might have been an age thing” is a similarly understandable response, as she probably wanted to double down on the fact that she’s not an authority on skincare or the benefits of veganism.

It’s also super funny?

[The Cut]


As a hypochondriac (I prefer the more legitimate-sounding phrasing “I suffer from hypochondriasis”), I completely understand Busy Philipps’s response to her abdominal pain.

In an Instagram posted yesterday, Philipps wrote:

Last night ended super weird. But if you listen to my podcast, you know our advice is always, don’t be a hero, go to the doctor. Anyway, I had a crazy excruciating pain in my lower right side and after a long time at Mass Gen, it was determined my ovary had flipped over- it’s called torsion. Mine flipped back by itself and I’m ok but sometimes if it doesn’t you have to get surgery or you can lose your ovary(which actually happened to a really good friend of mine) Anyway, my point of posting this was I felt like an idiot for going to the hospital but ultimately, going was the right move! It always is! Even if they say you’re fine and send you on your way! And a huge thank you to the amazing doctors and nurses who took care of me! ❤️❤️❤️

Then she posted this photo with Michelle Williams (the actress):

[Instagram]


Here’s a photo of Ben Affleck and Lindsay Shookus walking into the Lincoln Square AMC to see It.


  • Gabrielle Union’s favorite thing about Dwayne Wade is his ass, which I love. [Us Weekly]
  • Snoop Dogg’s son is named Cordell Broadus and he is a model. [NYP]
  • Imagine listening to David and Brooklyn Beckham say words to each other. [People]
  • Angie went out with the kids looking quite happy. [Us Weekly]
  • What a bar we’ve set. [Celebitchy]