Natalie Portman Says Rihanna Helped Her Through a Rough Divorce By Paying the Highest Compliment: ‘It Was Exactly What I Needed’

Back in January, Natalie Portman had a run-in with one of her biggest icons during Paris Fashion Week when she scored a meet-cute with Rihanna. On Monday night (July 15), the actress visited The Tonight Show to describe her first meeting with the music icon and make-up mogul, calling it “an amazing experience.”

Specifically, Portman said “I think every woman going through divorce should get to have Rihanna say to her that she’s a bad b–ch,” Portman explained of the moment caught on camera earlier this year after the two women sat front-row at the Dior Haute Couture show. “It was exactly what I needed,” said the actress, 43, who finalized her divorce from husband of 11 years Benjamin Millepied in February.

Fallon then rolled the clip or the two women meeting on the street outside the show, in which Rihanna envelops Portman in a huge hug while saying “I love you!” Rihanna then amped it up, telling Portman, “I am a f–king fan! You’re one of the hottest b–ches in Hollywood forever!” Portman could not believe her ears, responding, “Are you kidding me?… Excuse me, I’m gonna faint!”

Not only did Rihanna rain praise down on Portman, she also noted, “Yo, I don’t get excited about anybody, but I f–king love you.” Portman appeared to get a bit choked up watching the clip again, telling Fallon, “it was a formative moment in my life.”

Portman, who lives in Paris, also gave Fallon some crucial advice for how to not look like a tourist in France for when he travels there on August 11 to co-host the closing ceremonies at this summer’s Olympic games. According to the Lady in the Lake star the following items are forbidden: no shorts, no flip-flops, no red berets.

Watch Portman talk Rihanna meeting below.