Natalie Portman is "really trying to impress" her children with her movie roles

The 41-year-old actress told Variety: "I feel like it's the phase of my career where I'm really trying to just impress my kids.

"My five-year-old and my 10-year-old [now 11] were so enthralled by this process, getting to visit the set and see me dressed up in a cape. It made it really cool."

Natalie added: "You know, it's very rare that my kids are like, 'Please go to work!' Usually, it's quite the opposite."

Taika Waititi, director of the Marvel flick - the fourth in the 'Thor' franchise starring Chris Hemsworth as the titular Marvel superhero - called the return of Thor's love interest as a "real mindf***" for the demigod.

Recently, the 46-year-old filmmaker said: "It's been about eight years. She's had a whole other life, and then the love of your life comes back on the scene, and is now dressed like you. It's a real mindf*** for Thor."

Taika really wanted the Oscar winner - who is beloved by millions of 'Star Wars' fans for her role as Padmé Amidala, the love interest of Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), in the prequel trilogy - to "be part of the adventure" when he penning the screenplay.

He said: "I was writing and it was like, 'Wouldn't it be kind of cool to bring Jane back into the storyline?' You don't want Natalie coming back and playing that same character who's walking around with science equipment. You know, while Thor's flying around, she's left on Earth, tapping her foot going, 'When's he going to be back?' That's boring. You want her to be part of the adventure."