Literary Controversy: Does Rachel Cusk’s New Novel Reflect the Dark Reality of Natalie Portman’s Life?

According to CinemaDrame News Agency, Natalie Portman, who previously took home an Academy Award for her portrayal of a tormented ballerina in Black Swan, may now find a distorted and uncanny reflection of herself in the pages of an upcoming novel. Valerie Stivers, a writer for UnHerd, has revealed in a recent commentary that Rachel Cusk’s forthcoming novel, My M, is a thinly veiled, dark portrait of the Hollywood star’s life.

Although Portman is known to be a close friend of Cusk and an avid admirer of her work, she may not be pleased with what she discovers in this literary mirror. Stivers noted in her column: “The rumor in New York literary circles is that Cusk’s new novel is based on her personal relationship with Portman.”

Scheduled for release on August 25, 2026, the novel follows a world-famous movie star known simply as “M,” and a writer tasked with capturing her life amidst a backdrop of opulence, olive groves, private beaches, and the tinted windows of limousines. The book’s official synopsis reads:

“The movie star, M, is one of the most recognizable faces of our time, her image omnipresent since childhood. With such fame, her life carries the illusion of absolute freedom… But now, a writer has resolved to look closely at M to discover who she truly is. It is easy to feel ugly and insignificant in M’s presence, but what truths about the actual experience of living will this proximity unveil for the writer?”

Stivers, who like Portman resides in Paris, noted after reading an advance copy that Cusk’s books are never meant to be flattering, adding that the biographical details of “M” bear a striking resemblance to Portman’s own life. She further noted that the sense of resentment and betrayal the actress experienced upon reading the book’s final pages is entirely genuine.

Back in 2021, Portman publicly praised Rachel Cusk’s acclaimed Outline trilogy (Outline, Transit, and Kudos), admiring Cusk’s genius for defining a protagonist through the observations of those around them. It remains to be seen how the movie star will officially respond to this controversial reimagining of her private life.