Portman joined 'Thor' for Branagh

Natalie Portman has revealed that she only agreed to appear in Thor after learning Kenneth Branagh would direct it.

The actress was initially uninterested in taking on the role of Jane Foster in the Marvel Comics adaptation.

"It was actually not something I was dying to do," Portman told Total Film. "Not Thor in particular, but a big movie.

"When I heard Ken was doing it, I said, 'Wow that is a daring and interesting idea.'

"Then I met Ken and he was someone I was extremely interested to get to spend three months with. It was probably the first, or one of the first times that my expectations were actually exceeded."

Thor is scheduled for release in May 2011.