Rachel Cusk's New Novel 'La vida de M' Draws Parallels to Natalie Portman
Rachel Cusk, the youngest Booker Prize winner who spent 20 years avoiding publication, has released a new novel titled 'La vida de M' (The Life of M), which has not yet been translated into Spanish. The book has sparked widespread speculation among press and early readers that its protagonist, M, is modeled after actress Natalie Portman. M is a celebrated film actress who has been famous since childhood, now the face of a major fashion brand. The parallels to Portman are striking: in the novel, M's first film's sex scenes are cut at her mother's insistence, mirroring Portman's 1994 debut in 'Léon: The Professional', and M's ballet film is easily recognizable as 'Black Swan'. The narrator, who is unnamed and genderless, describes M as 'a good sport'. When the narrator suggests writing M's autobiography, M is receptive, asking, 'Do you...' (the text is cut off). The novel's publication has generated significant attention, particularly due to these celebrity parallels.
Key facts
- Rachel Cusk is the youngest Booker Prize winner.
- Cusk spent 20 years without wanting to publish.
- The novel is titled 'La vida de M' and is not yet translated into Spanish.
- The protagonist M is a famous film actress and face of a fashion brand.
- M's first film's sex scenes are cut at her mother's insistence, similar to Natalie Portman's debut in 'Léon' (1994).
- M's ballet film is recognizable as 'Black Swan'.
- The narrator is unnamed and genderless.
- The narrator suggests writing M's autobiography, and M likes the idea.