Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · July 22, 2025 · Entertainment

Lena Dunham and Natalie Portman's Braless Embrace on Set!

Lena Dunham (R) excitedly embraced Natalie Portman (L), whom she teamed up with to co-produce her new Netflix rom-com Good Sex, in Manhattan's East Village on Monday

SCANDALOUS ROM-COM SHOOT: LENA DUNHAM AND NATALIE PORTMAN GET COZY IN MANHATTAN!

In a shocking display of on-screen chemistry, Lena Dunham and Natalie Portman were spotted getting cozy on the set of their new Netflix rom-com, Good Sex! The 39-year-old writer-director and the 44-year-old Oscar winner were seen embracing each other in Manhattan's East Village, leaving fans wondering if there's more to their friendship than meets the eye.

Dunham, who boasts a whopping 3 million Instagram followers, looked stunning in her $148 GapStudio 'Draped Denim Slip' maxi-dress, matching blue neckerchief, and black Nike sneakers. Meanwhile, Portman opted for a comfortable beige T-shirt, grey sweatpants, and white Keds 'Champion Canvas Lace-Up' sneakers.

The 39-year-old writer-director bared her tattooed sleeves in a $148 GapStudio 'Draped Denim Slip' maxi-dress, matching blue neckerchief, and black Nike sneakers

But the real drama unfolded when Portman donned her costume as successful couples therapist Ally, caught in a love triangle that's eerily similar to Celine Song's Materialists. The former child star slipped into a $2,048 Prada 'Pleated Sablé' shirt, black mini-skirt, and patent leather long-tongue loafers.

And let's not forget Portman's on-screen leading men! She'll be romancing both 28-year-old Gen-Z singer Role Model (born Tucker Pillsbury) and 57-year-old Mark Ruffalo. Talk about a love triangle!

According to sources close to the production, Dunham is thrilled with the way things are shaping up. "We're about a quarter through our shoot," she told TheScholarlyNote.com last week. "And as expected, no spoilers here – Natalie Portman is a very, very good actress!"

Lena - who boasts 3M Instagram followers - shared a snap of her fit on Monday captioned: 'Really enjoying dressing for set and beyond this summer'

Dunham went on to reveal that Good Sex is all about challenging our perceptions of relationships, love, and sex in the modern era. She even enlisted the help of rom-com royalty Meg Ryan, who's set to make a mystery appearance in the film!

But here's the tea: Dunham and Portman aren't just co-stars – they're also co-producers! The dynamic duo teamed up to bring this passion project to life.

And speaking of passion projects, Dunham has also been working on her second memoir, Famesick, set to hit shelves on September 1. HarperCollins is publishing the book, which promises to be just as juicy as her first memoir!

The 44-year-old Oscar winner looked comfy in a beige T-shirt, grey sweatpants, and white Keds 'Champion Canvas Lace-Up' sneakers

Meanwhile, Portman's past is making headlines once again. Remember when she fell for her ex-husband Benjamin Millepied while he was still dating Isabella Boylston? Yeah, that happened on the set of Black Swan in 2009! And let's not forget her recent divorce from the Frenchman amid cheating allegations.

As for the film itself, Netflix shelled out a whopping $55 million to acquire Good Sex. And we can't help but wonder what kind of drama will unfold when it hits screens later this year!

In related news, Black Swan is returning to over 200 IMAX theaters on August 21 and 24 in honor of its 15th anniversary. It's going to be a wild ride!

Natalie (born Neta-Lee Hershlag) hauled a tote emblazoned with The New Yorker

Portman later got into costume as her newly-single character, successful couples therapist Ally, who's caught in a love triangle very similar to Celine Song's recent rom-com Materialists

The former child star slipped her slim 5ft3in figure into a $2,048 Prada 'Pleated Sablé' shirt and black mini-skirt

Natalie - clutching a to-go cup from Café Chrystie - also wore cat-eye sunglasses and $320 Jacquemus 'The Rond Carré' earrings as part of her costume

Portman's younger onscreen leading man - a Brooklyn hipster - will be played by Gen-Z singer Role Model (born Tucker Pillsbury) who, at 28, is 16 years her junior (pictured May 5)

The Israeli-born, Long Island-raised stunner's older onscreen leading man - successful Manhattanite Alan - will be played by Mark Ruffalo (R) who, at 57, is 13 years her senior

The four-time Oscar nominee (R) could be seen walking and talking with Dunham as they headed to the set

The eight-time Emmy nominee told THR last week: 'We are about a quarter through our shoot. And as expected, no spoilers here — Natalie Portman is a very, very good actress. It's playing with the romantic comedy form to try to say something about our expectations about relationships, about love and about sex'

Lena successfully courted rom-com queen Meg Ryan to play a mystery role in Good Sex after running into her at Taylor Swift's Eras Tour concert in London last year

Dunham revealed to Variety earlier this month: 'I decided, it's now or never, and I'm going to shoot my shot. She couldn't be a lovelier person. Shout-out Taylor — thank you for that. She brings everyone together; she makes the world go round' (pictured last August)

As for the music, the Nora Ephron protégée enlisted her British-Peruvian husband of four years, Luis Felber (L, pictured June 23), to compose the score just like he did with her previous projects Too Much and Sharp Stick

Darren Aronofsky's 2010 psychological thriller Black Swan - which earned Natalie her Academy Award - is returning to over 200 IMAX theaters on August 21 and 24 in honor of the 15th anniversary