Natalie Portman Opens Up About Parenthood and Life in Paris

On the differences between living in Paris and the US: "It's magical. But the cultures are different in ways you don't even realize. And there's stuff you don't know you'll miss until you're away. Like indoor gyms where kids can just run around and jump. They don't have those there. [In Paris] if you're running around on the playground chasing your kid and playing a game, people think you're nuts."

On balancing her career and parenthood: "Very early on, I asked [Cate Blanchett] about being a parent. I said 'How do you do it? You're a mom. You're the best at what you do.' She said, 'You just do. Stressing about it doesn't help.' Most men I know are dealing with the same issues. They say they feel like if they work too hard they won't have enough time with their families. Maybe those questions need to be asked of men, too. Maybe the men need better questions."

On Hollywood's focus on fashion and gender equality: "I like to look at what people are wearing, but I do see the sexism in it. Yeah, you could reject it all, but I don't know anyone who has done that and been able to maintain the level of work that I'd like to maintain."

On her identity and Israeli roots: "If you say, 'I'm from Sweden,' everyone says, 'Cool.' Then when you say, 'I'm from Israel!' everyone wants to have a 10-hour political conversation. Everyone has a very strong, very passionate opinion about it. But I'm grateful for it. I had so many friends who asked, when we were younger, 'Who am I? What's my identity?' I never questioned my identity."