Mila Kunis: 'Natalie Danced Her A** Off' in 'Black Swan'

By Sarah Crow Posted Mar 29th 2011 10:20AM

While rumors have been swirling over who really pas de bourree'd their way into our hearts in 'Black Swan,' Mila Kunis is speaking out on behalf of 'Swan' co-star Natalie Portman, saying that the actress deserves recognition for her hard work in the film's dance numbers.

Last week, dancer Sarah Lane, a soloist with the American Ballet Theatre, claimed that she had provided most of the footwork for which Portman was credited. "Of the full body shots, I would say 5 percent are Natalie," said Lane. "All the other shots are me."

Kunis vehemently denies Lane's report, saying, "Natalie danced her a** off. I think it's unfortunate that this is coming out and taking attention away from [the praise] Natalie deserved and got."

During the film's production, Portman admitted, "I do have a double for the complicated turning stuff. It was not anything I ever could have done in a year, nothing I could've caught up with. But I think it was just better for all of us if I did as much as possible." She does not admit, however, to relying on her dance double to the extent Lane claims.

"[Lane] wasn't used for everything. It was more like a safety net. If Nat wasn't able to do something, you'd have a safety net," says Kunis. "The same thing that I had -- I had a double as a safety net. We all did. No one ever denied it."

'Black Swan' director Darren Aronofsky has also spoken out on the controversy, saying, "There are 139 dance shots in the film. 111 are Natalie Portman untouched. 28 are her dance double Sarah Lane. ... Natalie sweated long and hard to deliver a great physical and emotional performance. And I don't want anyone to think that's not her they are watching. It is."

Tags: mila kunis, natalie portman

Comments

(15)

Tuesday 29 March

By some guy

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VERY lame of you Sarah Lane, trying to steal Natalie's thunder like that.

Thursday 31 March

By Portholus

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Oh Please....

Everyone is slamming the girl that actually studied for YEARS (and not just ONE YEAR) for standing up for the fact that she was basically cheated by the movie crowd.

If you believe this article, then 111 of the 139 total dance shots can be performed by someone with only 1 years worth of practice.

This is nothing more than the production people of the movie covering there backsides and the actors rallying around one of their own.

Sarah Lane is standing up for her hard work and her profession and she does deserve credit for what she did though the director would have you believe she did very little.

The way this is going, I hope there are no more ballet movies in the near future since the ones that do the heavy lifting in the dance department will get screwed on them so the "star" can be made to look better than they are.

Sarah, if you truly did do the work, then you deserve the credit. Natalie would have not looked as good as she did in the movie without Sarah's 22 years of practice and hard work so the least she could have done was give her some credit.

By Mike Johnson

I dont remember ever being affected in the way i was when i first saw her in "The Professional". This woman will go down as a huge talent and will be remembered always as one of the best actress of this century.
God had a real good day when he made this one!

By evol1

i can't even believe this is an issue... it's a movie for heavens sake, it's fiction... of course she didn't do the dancing, is she a ballerina??? were they suppose to cast a real ballerina? it's dumb to even bring it up......

By Kat2988

she was great, who cares if she did all the dancing, she won for her acting and it was damn good!

By Michael gifford

Lane probably needing attention and thought this movie was her ticket somewhere, probably to lead in next ballet production or leverage in contract negotiation...when it wasn't made a big deal in the press that she in fact did much of the more technical work, she was probably hurt that the movie Pr wasn't more about her...after all, she's a ballet dancer and it's just a movie...

By kaden

THE WOMAN WANTED WHAT ALL PEOPLE WHO ACT RECOGNITION FOR WHAT SHE DID THEY NEVER EVEN MENTIONED HER, THATS WRONG, USE SOMEONE ELSE'S TALENT ASD SAY ITS YOU, WRONG,I NEW WHEN I SAW THE DANCING IT WAS NOT PORTMAN, HER BOYFRIEND IS WHO STOLE THE CREDIT FROM THE OTHER WOMAN FOR PREGNANT NATALY WITH HIS BABY, HE WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR HER, HE IS HER GIGALO, LEFT AN ENGAGED WOMAN AND DID NOT EVEN TELL HER, THE ENGAGEMENT WAS OFF, TYPICAL HOLLYWOOD

By randi

nathalie is a great actress-sure,and for the show,she portrayed a ballerina. i cant believe this is an issue as well,but lane does deserve credit.absolutely

By Ralph Zuccaro

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The problem, is that Aronofsky should have USED a DOUBLE for EVERY SCENE for Portman-- She cant ACT, Dance, has bad speaking ability, Rotten Facial expression- An all around LOOSER- AND, for this TRASH MOVIE--She wins an Academy Award- It was a FIX al the way1

By JackNasty

What happened to Megan Fox's right rear delt ? Where'd it go ?

By tomaaasunglass

coach bag>>>styshops
d g

By cali1086

i still believe Lane

By Timber

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Blah,Blah,Blah, Im not buying it! Natalie did what? 5% of the dancing? Give the Oscar to the dancer and be done with it.
Natalie isnt a first rate actor anyway. Shes on the scale of a Pizza Face Diaz.

Wednesday 30 March

By Viv

Natalie was great ! Sour grapes !!

Friday 15 April

By harpospoke

It wouldn't be an issue if the press for the movie didn't imply that Portman did all the dancing and basically became a ballerina in a year. It effected the way people watched the movie. So let's not pretend it's "no big deal". It matters when you find out Milli Vanili really didn't sing like you thought they did.

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