[REVISION HISTORY]

Controversy over Rachel Cusk novel and Natalie Portman

Updated 5 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-27 13:13 UTC → 2026-08-28 02:35 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Following the release of Rachel Cusk’s novel *Life ‘Life of M* M’ on 24 August 2026, the controversy regarding its perceived parallels to Natalie Portman has intensified. While Cusk has maintained the work is a piece of metafiction exploring identity and public image, critics continue to highlight biographical similarities. These include the character M’s rise to fame as a child in European film, experiences with bullying, and roles reminiscent of Portman’s career, specifically citing films like ‘Léon: The Professional’ and ‘Black Swan’. Observers have also noted that both the fictional character and the actress are noted to reside in France. Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, the novel is described as an inquiry into fame, power, beauty, and truth. The narrative follows an unnamed writer using the actress M as inspiration. While some observers view the characterization as an unflattering portrait of a person hiding an ‘imposter’ behind a public facade, others argue the book serves as an exploration of how public figures navigate life under constant scrutiny rather than a traditional celebrity tell-all. Despite the widespread speculation and the characterization of the work by some British media as a ‘literary murder’ or ‘calculated form of humiliation,’ Portman—who has previously cited Cusk as one of her favorite authors—has not commented directly on the matter. Some reviewers have questioned the ethics of turning a real person’s life into fiction.

Versions

Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.