Natalie Portman gets first post-pregnancy role in live reading of ‘The Apartment’

Natalie Portman is ready to return to work after giving birth to Aleph, landing a role in a live reading of Billy Wilder’s The Apartment, which won Best Picture and Best Screenplay at the 1960 Oscars. Portman will play Fran Kubelik, Shirley MacLaine’s role, so if you have always wanted to hear her say, “Shut up and deal,” you will get your chance.

E! News reports that the reading is being hosted by Up In The Air director Jason Reitman at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art Thursday. It will be similar to the event that Jennifer Garner participated in last month when she did a live reading of The Breakfast Club.

Portman, who was last seen in Black Swan, will not be the only star on hand, according to New York Magazine. JK Simmons will play Sheldrake, Fred MacMurray’s role in the film, while Ken Jeong will be on hand to play Dobisch, who was played by Ray Walston in the film.

The actor who will play Jack Lemmon’s C.C. Baxter was not announced.

Portman has participated on stage before, playing in The Diary of Anne Frank on Broadway and a Shakespeare in the Park production of The Seagull, according to Theater Mania.