Sarah Lane: Close-Ups of Natalie Portman's Face Don't Count as Dancing

By PopEater Staff Posted Apr 15th 2011 11:30AM

The 'Black Swan' controversy lives.

Sarah Lane, Natalie Portman's ballerina double in her Oscar-winning role, stands by her assertion that Portman did not do as much of the dancing as everyone claims.

"They were trying to create this image, this facade really, that Natalie had done something extraordinary, something that's pretty much impossible," Lane tells 'Good Morning America,' "which is to become a professional ballerina in a year and a half."

As for Aranofsky's explanation that he counted the dance shots and 80 percent of them were Natalie, Lane scoffs.

"It's possible, like I said, if you're counting the close ups of her face as actual dancing shots. But I don't call close-ups of her face actual dancing," she retorts.

But the ballerina does believe Portman deserved the Oscar. "An Oscar is for acting and she did an amazing job with the movie."

Besides Aranofsky, Portman's fiance (and dancing partner from the film) Benjamin Millepied and her co-star Mila Kunis came to her defense.

The actress even spoke out about it as well, wishing to put the feud behind her.

Tags: natalie portman

Comments

(28)

Friday 15 April

By Liz

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

My God, can't that b*tch shut up? Suuure, you don't want fame, right!

By cristen

I concur.....if you dont want to be "famous" then shut the hell up! obviously you want some recognition for what you did in the film or else you would keep your big mouth shut!

By stu

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

meoooooooooooooooooooow

By Tame

Exactly!! Give the Oscar to the Dancer or one of the other 4 Actress's. Natalie is on par with Annuston,Diaz and Parker...NOT NOT Oscar caliber Actors!!!! Jennifer Lawrence is an ACTRESS....

By J Clews

You obviously did not see the movie!!! Natalie was incredible. She is a superb actress. The Oscar was awarded for the acting, not the dancing. The little dancer should have asked for a mention before filming began. She obviously wants her 15 minutes of fame. Dance, ballerina, and stop griping.

By Sally

this girl needs to let it go. we realize that it's a movie.....we are not looking at Natale as a dancer. get over yourself.....

By pinkpearlhtml

But THEY ARE implying that Natalie did as was said 80%, which was wrong, and a farce. She isnt saying that Natalie didnt ACT. But to pretend she was this amazing dancer doing this amazing feat is a joke

By Maria T C G

I am sure everyone will jump all over her, but I absolutely understand her stance. It is an art form that takes YEARS of CONTINUED extreme hard work, and to imply otherwise takes away from that amazing dance. Sure Natalie had past experience being a dancer but that is just wrong.
I support her, and I am sad that Nat doesnt own up. And Natalie's supporters are...Natalies friends! If another dancer that was involved in the show said otherwise it would have merit but I think its a farce.

By Polar Patrol

Hey Ballerina Beeyotch, shut up! No one cares! What, are you championing for a reality show? Guess what, they already have one named after you, and it's not Dancing With The Stars, it's The Biggest Loser!

By Alex

Vote down Vote up Report this

REally????? You got to be kidding right??? A true ballerina isnt made in a year and a half! It takes time, stamina and endurance. While Ms Portman did a great job as an actress and truly deserve the Oscar...let the dancer to the pros. So shut your face... she doesn't need to be in Dancing with the "STARS"....she is a soloist for the ballet an art form to elevate for people like you

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Alex, she clearly has an agenda, which is to make a name for herself and be a "star." But the way she is going about it makes her the "biggest loser." That's all I am saying.

By Di Tengblad

This one minute of fame is getting old, she needs to be quite as she was paid to be a stunt-double not a STAR.

By Judy

Sarah, you were paid to dance in a movie and you did. Natalie was paid to portray a dancer and she did. Just like in team sports, we all know that everyone who participates in the making of a movie was needed there so get over it, girl

By Dancer

Geez, nobody cares if you spent the whole film pirouetting on your noggin in a hurricane - it isn't you people pay to see. Keep talking, your next job in the business will be fetching coffee for the camera crew.

By Debbi

LOL-You are a laugh-riot as I can picture what you described in the first sentence. Too funny............

By sororoma

Give the editing department an award!!

They should fess-up, that's all. So she did not do as much dancing as the movie is suppose to lead you to believe.

This dancer is correct in claiming credit.

Mila should shut-up about Natalie dancing her butt off. Yes, we know but that does not mean she should take credit for dancing she did not do.

Stunt people are always given credit. Dancers are not.

Everyone knows it is not the actor leaping, rolling, pouncing, etc. It is great editing. But the actors never, ever claim credit.

She is correct in saying close-ups, like an actors close up, does not mean the actor did the stunt.

By L

Regardless the film sucked! I could tell that it was a double that did all the dancing because I studied ballet for 10yrs and no one perfect it in a year! Portman's arms were stiff and surprisingly Kunis arms were much more graceful. That is all they did wave their arms around the rest was danced by the pro. Hated the film can't believe people liked it proves you can sell anything to anyone with the right marketing!

By Lynn

And I can't understand what you hated about it. Everyone is entilted to their opinion. I certainly didn't watch the movie for the dancing, as I don't particularly care for ballet. I watched it for the acting and story. I thought Natalie was superb, and the story disturbing and entertaining.

By okidoke

First, no one is lying if they said 80% of the "dance shots" were Natalie Portman since that is NOT the same as saying that Natalie Portman did 80% of the dancing. Second, if this gal isn't looking for recognition or fame for her part in the movie, then why is she doing television interviews? I think that the intelligent people out there can very well figure out that Ms. Portman is not a ballet dancer by training and that obviously a dance double was required. For those too stupid to realize that, why even worry about them?

Page 1 of 2