Interview

GYLLENHAAL: I’m interested in this because you’re a traveler: What are your cures for jet lag?

PORTMAN: Cures for jet lag? I don’t have any. Why? Are you having bad jet lag these days?

GYLLENHAAL: No. But I’ve been finding that it’s a tendency for most magazines to ask celebrities about their cures for jet lag. I’m fascinated by it. I heard there’s this new drug coming out that’s like melatonin. It’s natural, but it’s been modified more specifically for sleeping.

PORTMAN: I get freaked out by pills. Everyone I know is always like, “I’m just going to take a Valium or an Ambien on the plane.” But I can’t do any of that stuff—it scares me.

GYLLENHAAL: My favorite situation that I was ever in was when I was on a plane with a group of people and all of them took Ambien except for me, and two of them had adverse reactions. They were awake and aggressive . . . Apparently aggression is one of the side effects of Ambien.

PORTMAN: And they were completely unaware, right—like they didn’t remember it after?

GYLLENHAAL: No, I think they remember it. Everyone else was dead asleep, and these two people were like, bashing their heads against the side of the plane, trying to jump out. So I was like, If taking this pill means that there’s even a 30 percent chance of me getting aggressive like that, then I would just rather stay at peace.

PORTMAN: You’re a very peaceful man, Jake.

This is an excerpt of the September cover story. To read the full Natalie Portman interview pick up a copy of Interview.