The Truth About Kat Dennings And Natalie Portman's Relationship

Marvel fans are likely familiar with Kat Dennings and Natalie Portman's on-screen friendship in Thor, wherein Dennings' character Darcy Lewis played the wise-cracking, sidekick BFF to Portman's Dr. Jane Foster. But what fans might not know is that Portman and Dennings are just as tight onscreen as they are off — and that their friendship predates co-starring in the 2011 film.

Portman said the experience of co-starring with Dennings was "a great, great gift. It was really lucky. It was a fun movie to begin with, and it amplified the fun by a million," (via PopSugar).

But for those of you who suspected Portman was the reason for Dennings' casting in Thor, know that there was no nepotism afoot. "Someone asked me, 'So your friendship with Natalie Portman clearly got you this film.' I'm like, Natalie Portman had no idea I got this!" Dennings recounted to PopSugar while doing press for the film.

Read on to learn the surprisingly low-key way the two connected.

Kat Dennings and Natalie Portman first met a few years before 2011's filming of Thor, when Portman appeared in the music video for Devendra Banhart's single "Carmensita." Dennings counts Banhart among her close friends as well, and from then on, Portman too (via The List).

"I was hoping to work with her and then it happened!" Dennings told MovieLine of their casting. Although Dennings serves as much of the film's comic relief and the audience stand-in, Dennings also credited Portman for having an under-the-radar set of comedic chops.

"She's hilarious! She's so wickedly funny, and people haven't gotten to see that side of her until now," Dennings said upon the film's release (via MovieLine).

As Dennings played research assistant to both Dr. Jane Foster and Dr. Erik Selvig (played by Stellan Skarsgård), Portman and Dennings shared many of their scenes with Stellan as well. However, Dennings speculates that might not have been as enjoyable for Skarsgård as it was for her Portman.

"Natalie and I just never stop talking. Never stop talking," Dennings recalled. "And Stellan was in all of those scenes with us — we'd be talking about boys or something and we'd turn around, and Stellan is just napping in the back seat. Poor guy, with two ridiculous young girls talking about silly things," (via MovieLine).

Given Kat Dennings and Natalie Portman's close friendship, it's almost a surprise that Portman never showed up on 2 Broke Girls, on which Dennings starred as Max from 2011 to 2017.

When asked about the possibility in 2013, Dennings replied, "I haven't asked her," admitting, "That might be a little too meta for 2 Broke Girls," (via ContactMusic).

Of course, that doesn't mean the actresses don't support each other's endeavors. In fact, when it was revealed in July 2019 that Portman would portray the Marvel Cinematic Universe's first female Thor in Thor: Love and Thunder, reprising her role as Dr. Jane Foster (via Elle), Dennings was thrilled. She relayed her excitement to Entertainment Tonight, saying, "I was alone and made a sound to myself. I think it's awesome. That was in the comics, so I think that's just such a great storyline," (via Yahoo! Entertainment).

While it's unclear whether or not Dennings will appear in Thor: Love and Thunder (via ScreenRant), Dennings fans can look out for her in WandaVision (via ScreenRant) and watch her on Dollface, which was renewed by Hulu for a second season (via TVLine).

As to whether or not Portman will show up on WandaVision or on Dollface, fans will just have to pray to the Norse gods.