Even years after its release, the making of Black Swan still fascinates fans.
Mila Kunis recently gave a candid glimpse into the grueling preparation she and co-star Natalie Portman endured while filming the 2010 psychological drama.
Dancing Over Dining: Kunis Shares Her Extreme Routine
The 42-year-old actress revealed in an interview with Portman and director Darren Aronofsky that staying away from the craft services table was essential.
“My prep was a lot of dancing and very little eating—which I know you’re not supposed to say, but it’s the truth,” Kunis told Vogue.
She added, “I drank a lot of broth and danced for 12 hours a day.” The discipline was intense, but the actresses embraced it.
“We were only supposed to have three months of prep before filming started, but we lost some financing, so that got extended to six months while Darren tried to find money,” Kunis explained.
“It sucked for Darren, but Nat and I were so happy because we had three extra months to dance.”
Shooting on a Shoestring Budget
Despite the film’s complex choreography and psychological depth, Black Swan was made on a tight $13 million budget and was filmed in just 42 days.
“We didn’t have any rehearsals beyond the dancing,” Portman, now 44, said.
She reflected on the unexpected personal growth that came with the physical training:
“One of the most surprising side effects of doing the physical training was that I ended up spending a year talking extensively to my trainer, who was a former New York City Ballet dancer and told me hours of stories that gave so much color and insight into that world.
It was like doing investigative journalism, but I was just gossiping with her while doing pliés.”
Injuries and Perseverance
The intense physicality came with its challenges. Kunis admitted, “We would shoot those dancing scenes for hours, and I had bruises all over my ribs just from being lifted over and over again.”
She also suffered a dislocated shoulder early in production but was sent to an acupuncturist by Aronofsky and recovered fully.
Rivalry and On-Screen Tension
In the story, Portman’s Nina rises as the lead in Swan Lake after the former prima ballerina retires, while Kunis’ Lily emerges as a promising dancer challenging Nina’s position.
The actresses said Aronofsky, 56, subtly encouraged tension on set, even though Portman herself had recommended Kunis for the role.
“Darren would tell me, ‘Nat is working really, really hard. She’s not even taking Saturdays and Sundays off.’
Then I would text Nat and she’d be like, ‘No, I’m not?’ I think that’s how we figured out what Darren was up to, but it was all in good fun,” Kunis shared.
Awards and Re-Release
Portman’s powerhouse performance earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress.
For fans eager to relive the magic, Black Swan is being re-released for a limited two-day run on August 21 and 24 in IMAX.
