Natalie Portman is well-known for her role as Padmé Amidala in the iconic Star Wars series and for winning an Academy Award for her performance in “Black Swan.” However, the acclaimed actress believes her contribution to the beloved children’s series “Bluey” holds significant importance.
Curious how an American actress became involved in an Australian cartoon?
Portman narrated a nature documentary in the “Whale Watching” episode from Season 3. Her character is credited simply as “Whale Doco Narrator.”
In this episode, siblings Bluey and Bingo are eager to play, but their parents are too tired. Mum relaxes on the couch with some snacks while Dad lies facedown on the rug. The children hop on Dad’s back as Captain Bluey takes passenger Bingo on “the best tour ever.”
Eventually, the kids put on a whale documentary, and Portman’s calming voice narrates, “Whales travel extremely long distances into warm waters to have their babies. They stay with them all the way back to the colder waters. There’s nothing a whale mom wouldn’t do for her children.”
Observing the show with her kids, Mum feels a pang of guilt and enthusiastically joins in the pretend play.
“It’s a very important show for my family,” Portman shared with Hoda Kotb during an appearance on TODAY to promote her major television series: Apple TV’s “Lady in the Lake.” Portman has two children with ex-husband Benjamin Millepied: son Aleph, 12, and daughter Amalia, 7.
“I was really, really honored to get to be part of it,” she said about the cartoon.
Hoda, who is also a fan of “Bluey,” agreed.
“‘Bluey’ is such a hit in our house, too,” said Hoda, who has two daughters, Haley, 7, and Hope, 5. “What is it about it?”
“It’s so wonderful,” Portman responded enthusiastically. “It’s just … I don’t know. It’s just pure joy.”
“Which is something that we need,” Hoda added.
“Something we need,” Portman affirmed.