In a 25 year career and with 45 acting credits, Natalie Portman had never worked with a female director. Last year, Portman became one herself with her directorial debut “A Tale of Love and Darkness,” which is in select theaters now. This year, she stars in Rebecca Zlotowski’s “Planetarium,” which premiered at Venice and is currently screening at TIFF. At the “Planetarium” press conference, Portman had much to say on women as film directors.

“I don’t think there’s anything inherently different about a female director except that, at least in the United States, there’s a lot less opportunity for female directors,” said Portman, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. “At every level, I think there are barriers to female directors, despite, I don’t think [there is] any essential difference in voice between genders.”

Portman enjoyed working with Zlotowski and learned from her directorial style. “As an actor, she always pushed me and challenged me to be tougher than my instinct, which I felt really was a great step,” she said. “It was a great example of desire in action,” Portman continued. “[Zlotowski] also showed me ways of directing that I had never seen before.”

Portman also noted the need for women to direct films and for diverse film narratives.

“It does feel both like a desire and a responsibility because we obviously need more representation of the female gaze,” she said, “even though I don’t really think that’s a category, but just more diverse experience behind the stories that the world is exposed to.”