Natalie Portman on Why She Did Thor

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Natalie Portman on Why She Did Thor

Source:Edward Douglas

November 21, 2009

Ever since Natalie Portman signed on to play Dr. Don Blake's love interest Jane Foster in Kenneth Branagh's upcoming Thor, the actress hasn't done a ton of interviews, so we haven't had much of a chance to learn about her take on the character.

At the press conference for Jim Sheridan's Brothers, a terrific drama in which Portman is quite astounding as a young mother whose husband is a soldier who has gone missing and presumed dead in Afghanistan, we tried our best to broach the subject, trying to find out why she decided to do it, having already starred in one comic book movie (V For Vendetta) as well as starring in one of the biggest sci-fi franchises of all time (Do we even have to name it?). We also were hoping to find out what sort of research or comics she might have read for the role, and whether it might be a big part, considering that much of the movie will probably take place in Asgard.

Unfortunately, the press conference environment is not the best place to get into this sort of thing--and we felt quite guilty even asking about it--but she did tell us at least why she did want to be in the movie:

"I just thought it sounded like a weird idea because Kenneth Branagh's directing it, so I was just like, 'Kenneth Branagh doing 'Thor' is super-weird. I've gotta do it'," she told us, before a journalist interrupted her answering our question because he didn't even know who Jane Foster was (The heathen!). Sadly, she never got to the rest of our question, but hopefully, we'll get another chance to talk to her before the movie comes out.

You can learn more about Brothers when we run some of the best bits of the press conference as well as our exclusive interview with Jim Sheridan over on ComingSoon.net.

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Posted by: Cool. on November 21, 2009 at 15:57:58

Cool.

Posted by: faustapp on November 21, 2009 at 16:03:07

It looks like a case of getting the female casting right for once, and screwing up on all the male casting.

Posted by: Man of Tommorrow on November 21, 2009 at 16:08:00

Why do people think that Jane will not have a big part in the film? I mean in the description it says that Thor is sent to earth as punishment. I would think that the film would take place on earth just as much if not more than on Asgard. I would guess that she would be in the film about as much as Katie Holmes was in Batman Begins. Anyways I am excited about the film and I am happy that we have a good peiece of eye candy for the movie.

Posted by: Peanut Butter Jelly Time on November 21, 2009 at 16:15:53

"Because I needed a paycheck and some redemption after starrting the lifelessly acted Star Wars prequels."

Isn't that what she really meant?

Very interested in the Thor movie and how Thor will be incoporated into the Avengers.

Can't wait.

Posted by: Harish on November 21, 2009 at 16:23:48

I don't like that she refers to it as "weird" but I'm sure if we had a detailed full-on response (damn that heathen!) that we would get a better idea of what she's thinking. Look forward to seeing her in character!

Posted by: faustapp on November 21, 2009 at 16:03:07

It looks like a case of getting the female casting right for once, and screwing up on all the male casting.

What on Asgard are you talking about? The cast doesn't seem bad as far as I'm concerned!

Posted by: Harish on November 21, 2009 at 16:25:47

Posted by: Peanut Butter Jelly Time on November 21, 2009 at 16:15:53

"Because I needed a paycheck and some redemption after starrting the lifelessly acted Star Wars prequels."

Isn't that what she really meant?

You tell us. You clearly know her through and through.

Posted by: FAT HIPPO on November 21, 2009 at 16:35:31

If you watch Entorage (which actually does portray behind the scenes dramas pretty well) you will realize sometimes ya gotta do aquaman if ya wanna do a serious film.

Posted by: jbroce on November 21, 2009 at 16:38:25

Posted by: Peanut Butter Jelly Time on November 21, 2009 at 16:15:53

"Because I needed a paycheck and some redemption after starrting the lifelessly acted Star Wars prequels."

Isn't that what she really meant?

Dont talk about my girlfriend like that!

Posted by: daniel clavette on November 21, 2009 at 17:10:01

She is great actress and i think that she like matvel comics and also she like thor jane foster .

Posted by: Peanut Butter Jelly Time on November 21, 2009 at 17:23:04

"Dont talk about my girlfriend like that!" by jbroce...

Talk about it anyway I please she sucked ass in the Star Wars prequels (as did the whole trilogy) but I liked her in The Professional.

Hope she does well in Thor as everyone in it.

Posted by: Harvester Of Sorrow on November 21, 2009 at 18:51:51

I'm confused. It says she plays Don Blake's love interest but I thought Marvel said that Don Blake wasn't in Thor.

Posted by: mojojackson on November 21, 2009 at 18:57:27

Harvester Of Sorrow (...language of the damned!):

From what I understand, a significant portion of the film deals with Thor being sent to Earth by Odin to learn humility, so I'm guessing Blake will be in it. I haven't heard anything about Blake being excluded from the film.

Posted by: immature on November 21, 2009 at 19:03:02

Everyone sucked ass in the prequels except Christopher Lee and Ian McDermid (sp?)

Posted by: Anton Ego on November 21, 2009 at 19:13:49

'Kenneth Branagh doing 'Thor' is super-weird. I've gotta do it'

Seems to me that's all the reason I'd need, too.

Posted by: Anonymous on November 21, 2009 at 19:38:07

This is outrageous!?!? They cast a JEWISH WOMAN as JANE FOSTER??!? Jane foster isn't Jewish. Wtf is this ****? Marvel, you're ruining these movies.

First they give us a 'black' Norse God/Hero, and now they change Jane Foster and make her Jewish. We're so mad!!! Who's with me, my comic book brothers?

...

You have a problem with this too, right? You're all outraged that a Jewish woman has been cast as Jane Foster, yeah? Or are you just a bunch of scummy, c*mrag racists, who really don't give a **** about historical authenticity as long as there aren't tanned people in this movie?

Posted by: Odin on November 21, 2009 at 20:24:42

@ Anonymous

**** me!

Posted by: Red Mask on November 21, 2009 at 20:43:10

The only one who's racist here is the coward who remains 'anonymous'. The people of Scandinavia would have nothing to do with such bigoted remarks.

Posted by: Sigh on November 21, 2009 at 21:02:13

"Or are you just a bunch of scummy, c*mrag racists, who really don't give a **** about historical authenticity as long as there aren't tanned people in this movie?"

Don't be an idiot. I have no problem with a black guy playing a norse god as long as he looks norse i.e. wear some white make-up. Being jewish is faith related, everyone can become a jew if one chose to. The word you're looking for is 'semite' that describes their race(palestinians are also semites fyi). Natalie is white and so is Jane Foster so there's no visual discrepancy. A black man in white make-up playing a norse god yields the same result i.e. no visual discrepancy. But a black man without any white make-up on will not look like a white norse god at all, so it'll be a visual discrepancy. It's the same deal if someone who's bald would play Thor. People wouldn't like it, doesn't mean people are discriminating against bald people in general now does it? Give the bald man a wig and the 'problem' disappears. The same applies to our black actor playing a norman, give him some white make-up and voilá. Problem solved for everyone, except the hypocrites who think it's somehow 'racist' to have a black man wear white make-up, yet if his face was painted green noone would cry foul.

Posted by: Man of Tommorrow on November 21, 2009 at 21:26:58

Why are some of the comments left on here? Can't we have a real discussion about this news?

Posted by: Travis McGee on November 21, 2009 at 23:11:50

I'm glad this film is getting made, but I'm also thinking that the Captain America film is going to be pushed back till at least March 2011.
Cap is supposed to be released about a month and a half after Thor. Yet no casting has been made. Thor starts production in less than 2 months, and has a full cast.
If no casting has been made on Captain by New Years, I will guarantee you that the film is going to be pushed back a year. Which means the Avengers film is going to be pushed back till at least 2012.

Posted by: Fletch from Georgia on November 21, 2009 at 23:17:01

Money biotches!!!!!

Posted by: Travis McGee on November 21, 2009 at 23:19:35

@ Sigh:

Being Jewish is both faith related and race related.
And no, not everyone can become Jewish. It is a long process and still might not happen. Judaism, like Hinduism, is mostly an exclusive religion. You really need to be born into the religion. That's a large contributing factor to why their population numbers are small. Where as Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism are not exclusive, where anyone can join at any time. This leads to their membership numbers to be much higher.

Posted by: Doon on November 21, 2009 at 23:19:44

@ Sigh, even if Elba wore make up (which is a silly idea, incidentally), his facial features and hair texture would still give him away as a black man.

Posted by: Fletch from Georgia on November 21, 2009 at 23:20:40

wait thor is being played by a black actor? That doesn't make much sense, my uncle is from denmark and there are like 2% black population over there. I have nothing wrong with black people/african americans my best friend is aa, just seems kinda weird for a thor/asgard character. But i'm not a thor fan so i don't really care.

Posted by: Doon on November 21, 2009 at 23:26:05

@ Fletch,

Idris Elba is playing a character named Heimdall in the film--not Thor himself.

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