As Harris writes in “Mike Nichols, A Life”: “‘I was nineteen,’ says Portman, ‘and I hadn’t done anything I had needed to research except for Anne Frank. I’d watch Phil [Hoffman] write down question after question in his notebook, and Meryl [Streep] would make up songs to sing and put them in her pocket just in case her character suddenly wanted to burst into song.’ She feared she was out of her depth and turned to Nichols, whom she found to be not only a sensitive director but also ‘the only older man who mentored me without there ever being a creepy element in it.’”
“I think he was a genuine feminist,” Portman says of Nichols in the book. “There was nothing, nothing, nothing there except him seeing you as a creative, interesting, talented human. It is the rarest, finest quality, and not many directors of his generation had it.” Nichols and Portman would collaborate for a second time on “Closer,” the director’s 2004 adaptation of Patrick Marber’s play of the same name. Portman’s role landed her the first Academy Award nomination of her career (she competed in the Best Supporting Actress category). As Harris writes in the book: “With Portman, Nichols was careful and protective, particularly in the strip club sequence, for which, at her request, he was happy to eliminate some of the nudity. ‘He wants to see my bare ass [even] less than my father would,’ said Portman at the time.” The book continues: “[Nichols] made sure [Portman] was comfortable with the angles, the costumes, and the movement, and walked her through the scene until she felt ready. ‘What he did for me…’ she says. ‘Lord, may I have that ability to offer that kind of mentorship and guidance to one other person.’” “Closer” proved to be a dramatic breakthrough for Portman, who was still involved with the “Star Wars” prequel trilogy at the time. Harris’ book “Mike Nichols, A Life” is now available for purchase through Penguin Press. Products featured are independently selected by our editorial team and we may earn a commission from purchases made from our links. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
