Natalie Portman calls ‘Bluey’ role her ‘most important’ performance

For Natalie Portman, there are no small roles.

The Oscar-winning actress reflected on her guest role on the children’s animated series “Bluey” during a Monday appearance on the “Today” show. Portman made her cameo on the Critics Choice-nominated show during its third season in 2021.

Host Hoda Kotb told Portman she was “surprised” to see the voiceover performance while reviewing the actress’s extensive list of acting credits.

“It’s the most important one,” Portman said with a laugh. “I was a narrator of a nature documentary that they were watching.”

In the episode, titled “Whale Watching,” Portman narrates a television documentary about whales that pups Bluey and Bingo watch in their living room.

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“It’s a very important show for my family,” Portman, who shares son Aleph, 13, and daughter Amalia, 7, with ex-husband Benjamin Millepied, told Kotb. “I was really, really honored to get to be part of it.”

Created by Australian animator Joe Brumm, “Bluey” debuted in 2018 and centers on the everyday life of Blue Heeler puppy Bluey and her adorable canine family.

USA TODAY’s TV critic Kelly Lawler said the “heartwarming” series “captures the spirit of play, the reality of parenting and the beauty of childhood all in crisp, seven-minute episodes” in a July review.

“It’s just pure joy,” Portman said of the series, which is “something we need.”

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The adventures of Bluey and Bingo continue in “Bluey Minisodes,” a series of mini-episodes that will air in three batches. The first seven mini episodes made their Disney+ debut on July 3.

Contributing: Kelly Lawler and Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY