'THE WORLD IS LITERALLY ON FIRE': NATALIE PORTMAN TALKS WILDFIRES, ANTI-SEMITISM AND NEW FILM 'VOX LUX'

"The world is literally on fire right now."

Natalie Portman arrived for the AFI Fest premiere of her new film "Vox Lux" in Hollywood on Friday night (9 NOVEMBER) as wildfires raged across the state. She said it was tough to focus on promoting her film during the fires, which have destroyed homes and prompted evacuations of more than 250,000 people.

"Yeah, it's definitely difficult. The world is literally on fire right now. And unfortunately it's becoming more and more common here in California," Portman said. "Yeah, I'm wishing everyone in the area – friends and family and people who I don't know -- a lot of love this evening and hoping for everyone's safety."

Portman said she had spoken with her two children about the fires.

"I think you always need to tell kids that it's going to be OK first and foremost. Because they need to feel safe. But of course, you have to talk to them about it because of the air-quality and all of the things that we deal with," she said.

The 37-year-old star, who is Jewish, also spoke out anti-Semitism after last month's mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue.

"I think that hate is coming out in many ways that it had been kind of covered before. And it's a disaster for all of us. We need to come back to love thy neighbor," she said.

In "Vox Lux," written and directed by Brady Corbet, Portman plays a pop star whose life is changed by gun violence and terrorism.

"She was such an incredible character that Brady wrote. I was so lucky to get to play someone who has so many different sides. She is so interesting in her ability to go from like nonsense to real insight, from being really kind to quite cruel. She really kind of can be everything," Portman said. "But yeah of course, there is some political relevance with the things that she goes through. I wish that weren't the case. I wish that would stop being the case. Because of course she experiences violent acts in the film and we are reminded of it regularly because it's happening so frequently. But I think that's part of the dynamic always when art is reflecting life and life then reflects art too."

"Vox Lux" is set for release in the U.S. on December 7. AFI Fest in Los Angeles continues through November 15.

Los Angeles, 9 November 2018

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Natalie Portman, actress:

"Yeah, it's definitely difficult. The world is literally on fire right now. And unfortunately it's becoming more and more common here in California. Yeah, I'm wishing everyone in the area – friends and family and people who I don't know -- a lot of love this evening and hoping for everyone's safety."

2. Wide Portman talks with reporter

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Natalie Portman, actress:

(Reporter: "Do you feel like anti-Semitism is on the rise and how did that shooting affect you?")

Portman: "I think that hate is coming out in many ways that it had been kind of covered before. And it's a disaster for all of us. We need to come back to love thy neighbor."