Why Did ELLE France Do Natalie Portman So Dirty with This ‘Borderline Scary’ Cover?

ELLE France will always and forever be at the top of our must-have list when visiting our local newsstand. Can you blame us? Covers starring the likes of Demi Moore, Laetitia Casta, Angèle, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Eva Mendes, Estelle Lefébure, Dorit Revelis, Paulina Porizkova, and Arizona Muse have enthralled us to no end over recent months. Véronique Philipponnat, the editor-in-chief of the magazine, welcomes Natalie Portman onto the cover of ELLE France for September. The Oscar Award-winning actress is all smiles in the joyous cover shot, captured by the photographer Cass Bird. Natalie, who has served as Christian Dior brand ambassador since 2010, is naturally decked out in head-to-toe Dior, as styled by Geraldine Saglio.

Natalie Portman for ELLE France September 4, 2025

Read below the reactions of theFashionSpot’s forum members:

“Natalie Portman is beautiful, but this shot is definitely not my favorite,”immediately commented MModa upon checking out the cover.

“They did her dirty,” Hchloe exlcimaed.

“VERY dirty,” replied forum member Squizree. “She looks borderline scary. Open-mouth shots are so tricky when it’s a static photograph!”

Also not exactly best impressed was likeahurricane. “I can see what they were going for, but this ain’t right. It’s like an outtake we shouldn’t be seeing,” they critiqued.

“Considering that Natalie wearing all Dior and has two stories, it’s a pity that they chose that cover!” sighed an underwhelmed Lola701.

“They had the shot of her smiling with the trench coat ready to be a cover, but instead…” noted GivenchyAddict.

See more of Natalie Portman from the ELLE France cover shoot and join the conversation, here.

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