Let’s face it, Marvel superhero movies is a bit of a boys’ club. But that’s about to change, according to Thor: The Dark World actress Natalie Portman. Speaking exclusively to SciFiNow, Portman echoed the rumours of a prospective Captain Marvel movie and more besides.

“There are definitely many strong women, but it will be exciting when there is a central female character which I think is coming – I have heard is coming – and, of course, also a central non-white character will also be exciting. Title characters.

“But they do definitely have strong female characters in them,” she adds, “and I think it’s a testament to the people who run Marvel, their respect, their just normal human respect for women, the way they want to characterise them; you can tell when men talk to you, as just a person or as a ‘woman’”

In Thor, Portman plays Jane Foster, an astrophysicist who first clapped eyes on the son of Odin when he was banished to Earth in the 2011 movie. The sequel was originally set to be the first superhero tent pole to be directed by a woman, Monster helmer Patty Jenkins. Portman made no secret of her initial disappointment when the directing gig went to Game Of Thrones‘ Alan Taylor.

“I was very upset because Patty [Jenkins] is a wonderful woman,” she tells SciFiNow. “I was excited to work with her but I understood why she chose to leave and Alan [Taylor] is really wonderful, so it was bittersweet.”

Thor: The Dark World is in cinemas 30 October 2013. Pick up the first film on DVD for £11.58 or Blu-ray for £18.89 from Amazon.co.uk.