Pregnant Natalie Portman pulls out of Oscars

Natalie Portman will not attend the Academy Awards this weekend because of her pregnancy.

The 35-year-old star has been nominated for Best Actress for the biopic 'Jackie' at the Oscars but has pulled out of the ceremony in Hollywood because of her pregnancy.

She said: "Due to my pregnancy, I am unable to attend the Academy Awards. I feel so lucky to be honoured among my fellow nominees and wish them the most beautiful of weekends."

Natalie also skipped the Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica over the weekend.

The star is expecting her second child with husband Benjamin Millepied and previously accepted the Best Actress award at the Academy Awards in 2011 when she was pregnant with their son Aleph, now five.

And Natalie and Benjamin have not yet compiled a shortlist of possible names for their new child as they think it is important to "meet" the baby first.

Asked if she has chosen a name for the impending new arrival yet, Natalie recently said: "You've got to meet a baby before. Gotta meet the baby and then figure it out."

Meanwhile, speaking previously about 'Jackie', Natalie insisted she is "so proud" of the movie, which follows the life of former First Lady Jackie Kennedy after the assassination of her husband, President John F. Kennedy.

She also said she feels it is particularly important to "celebrate art" in the wake of the current political climate.

She said: "I'm so proud of the film, Jackie, and to be with the people I love working with.

"Especially at a moment that's dark in our country's history, to be celebrating art and people trying to express human emotion and be empathetic towards other people is good."

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