The Hollywood Reporter brings word that Oscar winner Natalie Portman (Black Swan, Jackie, Annihilation) will be directing and starring in dual roles as identical twin sisters in a movie based on the writers behind the Ann Landers and Dear Abby columns.
Esther and Pauline Friedman were the sisters who wrote for each column and apparently had a bitter professional rivalry but led personal lives there were equal parts competitive, jealous, successful, and loving.
Born in 1918, the identical sisters were essentially raised to be one person as they were told by their parents that they were “half of the same egg.” They wore the same clothes, learned the same instruments, sometimes had the same escort at parties, had a double wedding with identical dresses and hairstyles, and did nearly everything together. It was only a matter of time before one of them broke away, determined to be seen as an individual, which ultimately led to their professional rivalry down the road.
Katie Robbins (The Affair producer) will pen the script for Portman’s project, with Peter Saraf and Big Beach’s Dani Melia set to produce.
Portman’s latest completed project, The Death and Life of John. F Donovan, will premiere this September and also stars Jacob Tremblay, Thandie Newton, Kit Harington, Bella Thorne, and Kathy Bates. The actress also recently wrapped filming on the musical drama Vox Lux, debuting on March 7, 2019, and is currently filming Noah Hawley’s sci-fi drama Pale Blue Dot alongside Zazie Beetz, Dan Stevens, Jon Hamm, Ellen Burstyn, and Colman Domingo.
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
