The professional dancer who worked as Natalie Portman's dance double for the Academy Award-nominated film, 'Black Swan,' is claiming she's the victim of a "cover-up," Entertainment Weekly reports. The ballerina told the magazine the film and its producers are misleading the public about how much dancing Portman actually did in the movie."Of the full body shots, I would say 5 percent are Natalie," says Sarah Lane, 27, an American Ballet Theatre soloist. "All the other shots are me." Lane performed most of the film's complicated dance sequences and allowed Portman's face to be digitally grafted onto her body.
In a L.A. Times article published earlier this week, Portman's fiancé and 'Black Swan' choreographer Benjamin Millepied said otherwise. "There are articles now talking about her dance double [Lane] that are making it sound like [she] did a lot of the work, but really, she just did the footwork, and the fouettés, and one diagonal [phrase] in the studio," he said. "Honestly, 85 percent of that movie is Natalie."
But Lane doesn't agree. "The shots that are just her face with arms, those shots are definitely Natalie," she said. "But that doesn't show the actual dancing."
Lane confessed she was never promised specific billing for her role but was disappointed to see herself barely credited: she is only acknowledged as "Hand Model," "Stunt Double," and "Lady in the Lane" (a brief walk-on role).
One of Lane's most surprising admissions to EW: that 'Black Swan' producer Ari Handel asked her not to talk about her work to the press.




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the dancing did not win natalie an oscar. just saying...
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No, her rich uncle did!
NOR, DID HER ACTING AND WE WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT!!!
This movie sucked with a capitol F.
I want my money back.
Oh by the way, didn't this same thing happen with "Flash Dance"?
You are correct Ashley-- dancing didn't win it, ACTING, didn't win it, the filthy story DID help for DEGENERATE attention to the film-- WHO won it was the JEWISH CABAL that runs everything in Hollywood, and the OSCAR give aways to "their OWN"- Worst story, movie, acting EVER to win such an AWQARD!!!!
movie should have been on Lifetime network.
SO WHAT!!! Portman is a actress not a ballerina. I don;t think anyone thought anything different.. This woman was a stunt double, most movies have them and they are not given credit, get over it..
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Shirl, gotta tell ya, you sound ignorant. I agree that Ms. Lane signed a contract, etc, etc, but for Ms. Portman to get all of the credit for dancing abilities that take years to master is rotten. As for the acting aspect, don't you realize that what Ms. Lane was doing WAS ACTING?? Obviously, culture isn't on your plate. I think the double should be credited, hell the second gaffer always is. People doing stunt work for "famous" actors rarely achieve the fame they deserve.
and they got paid for their job. and Lane is just trying to ride on someone else fame. She could always refuse the job. I am sure many others are willing to take over
To shirl..yes, it is a big deal. Especially when we've been led to believe that Natalie Portman did most of the dancing herself. Which if you think about it, is ridiculous. Real ballet dancers work for years and to perfect the dance moves that were portrayed in this movie.
I'm sure if you weren't given proper credit for whatever crappy job you have, you would think it was a big deal too.
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I don't believe anyone was led to believe Portman did her own dancing..I certainly didn't.. Like you said it takes years of practice...
and trying to insult me doesn't work either... Lets face it, the woman was paid to dance, she did, congrats to her.. but dancing did not win the award acting did.....
Well there's one way to solve this mystery... look at both of the lady's feet. Ballerinas feet are almost distinctive in a way due to the types of injuries (broken toes, Sprained Ankles, Broken feet, blistered and/or calloused feet sometimes to the point of bleeding and other similar injuries. A lot of times they have some sort of bandages around their toes, generally band-aids, due to the how hard pointe shoes are on the toes, feet, ankles, and even the knees of the ballerinas. Especially when performing different moves like the fouettés that require them to be on their toes or "on Pointe". So does it matter who did most of the dancing yes.. wouldn't you want credit for the work you did ?!
I agree that we were mislead. It is a huge deal! One of the main reasons why I thought Natalie Portman was so incredible in the role was the fact that she could dance so well from only training for a short period of time. The movie was very interesting and yes, her acting was good. But Natalie's acting alone was not enough for an Academy Award.
A big deal? Some of you people (mostly jealous ugly women) act like this really affects you. Oh no how will you go on! Blah get a life.
Stand-Ins are Actresses too. Just sayin'.
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Amen to that you are stating the truth!!!!
No, Stand-ins are stand-ins. There is no acting involved. Much like so-called "background acting". In fact, I'll go as far as to say stand-ins are background actors. Furniture.
well natalie won a oscar for best actress not dancing. lane sounds like a typical primadonna ballerina...thinks her dancing made the movie and natalies acting so much better...not even close...dancing was nice..not great..good enough for a movie. hope the word gets out...dont ever use ms lane in a movie for any stunt work..she will try and discredit everyone involved if she doesnt get her name in lights for it
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well , the movie is about the dancing how can you say she got it for her acting when thats what the whole movie centers around ? the DANCING !!!