Natalie Portman’s Animated Triumph: A Sci-Fi Dream Realised
Natalie Portman hails her work on the animated film Arco as a dream fulfilled, celebrating her dual role as voice actor and producer. The film is already being tipped as one of 2025’s standout animated features.
For years, Natalie Portman steered clear of animation, but 2025 saw her not only dip a toe in but take a proper plunge, voicing characters in two separate projects. One, a take on Roald Dahl’s The Twits, cast her as Mary Muggle-Wump, a long-suffering victim of the story’s infamous duo. Despite a cast boasting Margo Martindale, Alan Tudyk, and Johnny Vegas (yes, really), the reception was less than glowing—most critics found the film’s title lent itself a bit too easily to unflattering rhymes. Fortunately, Portman had another card to play: Arco.
Centred on a boy from a distant future who finds himself marooned in 2075, Arco follows his attempts to return home, his friendship with a girl named Iris, and the unwanted attention of a band of conspiracy theorists. The film has been showered with praise, with many calling it the year’s finest animated offering. It’s already scooped up several awards and is firmly in the running for ‘Best Motion Picture – Animated’ at the 2026 Golden Globes, with the Oscars looking a distinct possibility.
Portman’s Robotic Turn
Promoting the film, Portman—who also took on producing duties—spoke with evident enthusiasm about her latest venture. She described her character, a ‘nanny droid’ tasked with raising Iris in her parents’ absence, as a particular highlight. Spending so much time amongst robots, she admitted, brought back memories of a certain science fiction saga that helped launch her career.
“It was a dream come true,”
she remarked,
“Finally, I got to be the droid instead of just acting opposite the droid! It makes sense that if you have a nanny bot, you would want it to embody the best of the mother and father.”
The droid, Mikki, is a blend of both parental figures, and to achieve this, Portman’s voice was mixed with Mark Ruffalo’s. Curiously, Ruffalo doesn’t actually play Iris’ father—Chris Hemsworth fills that role. Perhaps Portman simply fancied giving another Avengers alumnus a bit of work. In the original French version, the mother is voiced by Alma Jodorowsky, granddaughter of the famously eccentric director Alejandro Jodorowsky.
Echoes of a Galaxy Far, Far Away
Portman’s quip about acting “opposite the droid” is a clear nod to her time in the Star Wars prequels, where she played Padmé Amidala, the senator who met a tragic end after falling for Anakin Skywalker. The prequels may have had a rough ride with critics, but Portman has hinted she might not be entirely done with that universe. Whether this robotic role is a sly wink to her sci-fi past is anyone’s guess.
Even if she never returns to that particular galaxy, Portman’s credentials in science fiction are well established. Between Arco, her turn in Alex Garland’s Annihilation, and her Marvel outings, she’s carved out a solid niche. Now, with animation seemingly conquered as well, her prospects look rather promising indeed.