How Natalie Portman Got Jacked For Thor: Love And Thunder

Fans were treated to their first glimpse of Natalie Portman as Mighty Thor when the teaser trailer for Thor: Love and Thunder dropped on Monday, 18 April.

And while Portman’s Jane Foster only popped up on screen for a split second, she looked notably ripped while wielding the God of Thunder’s hammer.

Portman has spoken about her intense training regime for the Taika Waititi-directed blockbuster, even admitting she struggled with the gnarly workouts required of her in the wake of the pandemic. 

During a virtual appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon in 2020, Portman was asked by Fallon about her gym schedule. 

Fallon said: "I don't know if people understand the training that goes into these movies. Are you doing these crazy workouts and stuff?" 

Unable to keep a straight face, Portman – who was filming the movie in Australia at the time – replied: "I’m trying!" 

She added: "I’ve had like months of pandemic, eating baked goods and laying in bed and feeling sorry for myself. I’m, like, super tired after working out. And during. And dreading before.”

In a recent YouTube video about Portman’s all-guns-blazing Thor routine, Looper pointed to a quote by CrossFit coach Maddy Black, who spoke to Ahlan Live about the Oscar-winning actress’ training regime. 

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Black said: “Natalie will be carrying out lots of compound weight-lifting movements such as squatting, pressing and pulling. 

“In order to remain lean for the role, she’ll be implementing some high-intensity interval training into her weekly routine.” 

Elsewhere, Portman has previously revealed she is a fan of running, comparing an hour-long jog to ‘meditation’.

She told Women’s Health in 2019: “I run maybe three times a week. When I’m running for a full hour it feels a little like meditation to me.”

A teaser for Thor: Love and Thunder lit up the internet this week and offered a 90-second glimpse into what we can expect when we return to Asgard this summer.

Portman is returning to the franchise for the first time since 2013’s Thor: The Dark World. New film Love and Thunder is a direct sequel to Thor: Ragnarok and will adapt elements from Jason Aaron's run on the Mighty Thor comic book, which saw Jane take on Thor’s powers.

Waititi said in a recent interview that Love and Thunder makes Ragnarok seem like ‘a really run of the mill, very safe film'.

Thor: Love and Thunder will hit cinemas on 8 July, 2022