We Are Very Excited For Natalie Portman And Natalie Portman's Arms In Thor: Love And Thunder

There are many kinds of strength, but seeing the physical representation of it in the human form is always a little inspiring. Sculptors and artists who depict humans often highlight those in peak physical condition — Michelangelo's "David" doesn't look like he's ever missed leg day — so it makes sense that we all appreciate a finely sculpted form. We've seen plenty of buff boys in the MCU, but Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, aka Mighty Thor, is one of the first truly beefy women. 

There was real power in seeing the incredible fitness and talent of the Dora Milaje onscreen in "Black Panther," and there's been a similarly joyous response to Portman and her beautiful biceps. If women can be superheroes, why can't they be buff, too? 

While there are absolutely conversations to be had about the intense workouts and diets required of actors for these kinds of roles, seeing Portman's gorgeous guns in action feels like equality. She looks strong, and capable, and absolutely stunning. Not only that, but if anyone deserves to be a big buff badass hero, it's Natalie freaking Portman, who has suffered through just about every kind of submissive role in cinema to get to this point. Regardless of whether you see the ads for "Thor: Love and Thunder" and want to be Mighty Thor or be with Mighty Thor (or both!), Portman's ascension to butt-kicking queen is worth celebrating. 

I'll be perfectly transparent: I grew up watching Natalie Portman. She's only a few years older than me and has been acting since 1994, when I was still in elementary school. More than any other actor, I've felt like I grew up as she did, and watching her go from a terrified little girl in "Leon: The Professional" to someone worthy of bearing Mjolnir in "Thor: Love and Thunder" is incredibly satisfying. If anything, getting to appear this tough and ripped in a killer costume is the universe finally making things right for when her otherwise incredible character Padmé Amidala died of heartbreak in "Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith." Look, Portman has been telling us she's not a wilting flower for quite some time: just look at the SNL sketch she did in 2013 where she raps about shedding her "good girl" image. 

There's been a lot of policing women's bodies lately in politics and pop culture, with many different kinds of people arguing about what an ideal woman should be. There are many, many ways to be a woman, and as long as they make the woman healthy and happy, then they're ideal. Big arms can be empowering and sexy, and it feels good to see a different kind of femininity represented. Yes, Jane has biceps that put most of us to shame, but she's still incredibly beautiful and feminine. Maybe that dichotomy makes some people uncomfortable. It's a lot like Rebecca Romijn insisting that Una wear a Starfleet dress on "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" while doing action scenes, because they're showing little girls everywhere that femininity is what you make of it. Representation is powerful, and having role models with varying body types will help kids learn confidence in themselves.

For those of us who have already grown up, well, we can just admire those arms anyway. They're hot. She's hot. Everyone in "Thor: Love and Thunder" is hot. Let's just enjoy the bounty.