The Supposed Natalie Portman Novel Isn’t That. So What Is It?

Plus: Who Worked the Grill and Who Did the Dishes for the Royals

View in browser | Update preferences August 17, 2026 If you are anything like me, then you love when a good bit of juicy literary gossip crosses your desk. Most recently that frivolous indulgence took the form of the rumor floating around that Rachel Cusk’s highly anticipated new novel, Life of M, was actually a thinly veiled work about her friend and Academy Award–winning actor Natalie Portman. As group chats across New York light up and our very own office buzzes with speculation, VF’s Hillary Busis investigates the parallels, and poses a larger question about why Portman so often finds herself at the center of other people’s narratives. Elsewhere at the magazine today, satisfy any post-Odyssey-screening blues with an interview with Himesh Patel, a.k.a. Eurylochus, who, a month after the blockbuster’s release, is finally taking it all in. Plus, we’ve got the latest on AOC’s very public egg-freezing journey from Michelle Ruiz, who first broached the subject with the congresswoman in a 2020 VF cover story. And join us in downtown Manhattan, where VF’s Dan Adler reported live from the courthouse where Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty to shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. DANIELA TIJERINA, ASSOCIATE EDITOR Rachel Cusk’s Life of M Isn’t Really About Natalie Portman. So What Is It? BY HILLARY BUSIS A source close to the actor tells VF that the backstory behind Rachel Cusk’s new book is little more than “a very clever marketing ploy” and that Portman’s friends are “pretty enraged.” From Life of M to Jonathan Safran Foer’s inbox, the Oscar winner frequently gets thrust into other people’s narratives. Why?... Read more Why this ad? Get more as a subscriber Exclusive offer with Vanity Fair: Subscribe to get 1-month free START YOUR FREE TRIAL Culture Watch HOLLYWOOD The Odyssey’s Himesh Patel Would Follow Matt Damon Into War BY WISDOM IHEANYICHUKWU A month after Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey hit theaters, audiences have had time to sit with and reflect on the enormity of the experience. So has Patel, who has deep thoughts to share about leadership, fate, the concept of the righteous victory—and starring in the pilot for Ryan Coogler’s X-Files reboot... Read more BODY POLITICS Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Egg-Freezing Journey Doesn’t Surprise VF—We Spoke About It Years Ago BY MICHELLE RUIZ During an interview for her 2020 Vanity Fair cover story, the congresswoman questioned, “Do I freeze my eggs? Can I afford to do that?” Six years later, she's recording the process—and the politics—in daily installments on social media... Read more CRIME View From the Courtroom BY DAN ADLER Luigi Mangione entered his guilty plea, with his lengthiest comments to date about his motivations, as the late UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s family looked on... Read more Why this ad? True Colors The Strange Tale of Leon Black and Jeffrey Epstein BY NATE FREEMAN The Epstein Files revealed the most forensic release of a private mega-collector’s holdings in history. But that hasn’t stopped Leon Black from serving on the MoMA board and making the rounds at art fairs... Read more In Case You Missed It Royal Barbecues at Balmoral Chef Darren McGrady, who worked for Queen Elizabeth for 15 years, says that during summers at the Scottish estate, all the royals would lend a hand at mealtime. Adrien Brody Lived in Isolation in a Hotel for Five Months The actor cut himself off to prepare for his Broadway debut in The Fear of 13, a play based on the true story of Nick Yarris, a man who spent 22 years on death row for a murder he didn’t commit.   MORE FROM VANITY FAIR HOLLYWOOD ARTS & CULTURE POLITICS STYLE ROYALS This e-mail was sent to you by VANITY FAIR. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our e-mail address, vanityfair@newsletter.vf.com, to your address book. View our Privacy Policy Unsubscribe Copyright © Condé Nast 2026. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.