Mila Kunis revealed that while working on the Oscar winning film Black Swan, she had to stay far away from the craft services table.
The 42-year-old actress shared during an interview alongside co-star Natalie Portman and director Darren Aronofsky that her diet was minimal while shooting the 2010 drama.
‘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,’ she told Vogue.
‘I drank a lot of broth and danced for 12 hours a day.’
The star of Luckiest Girl Alive disclosed, ‘We initially had a three-month preparation period, but due to some financial setbacks, it extended to six months while Darren searched for additional funding.’
‘It sucked for Darren, but Nat and I were so happy because we had three extra months to dance.’
Mila Kunis revealed that while working on the Oscar winning film Black Swan, she had to stay far away from the craft services table
The psychological drama was made on a shoestring budget of only $13 million, and once it production began was shot in 42 days.
‘We didn’t have any rehearsals beyond the dancing,’ Portman, 44, said.
She mentioned, ‘A remarkable outcome of the physical training was the year-long conversations with my trainer, once a New York City Ballet dancer. His stories provided deep insights into that world.’
‘It was like doing investigative journalism, but I was just gossiping with her while doing pliés.’
‘We would shoot those dancing scenes for hours, and I had bruises all over my ribs just from being lifted over and over again,’ Kunis revealed.
‘Early in production, I dislocated my shoulder and worried I wouldn’t recover, but Darren’s referral to an acupuncturist resulted in a complete recovery,’ she added.
In the film, Portman’s Nina become the lead dancer in the upcoming production of Swan Lake after the former prima ballerina was forced to retire.
Kunis’ Lily is a promising dancer, who offers some competition for Nina as she struggles to hold on to the lead.
‘My preparation involved much dancing and very limited eating—I know it’s not ideal to admit, but it’s true,’ the actress, 42, revealed to Vogue. ‘I consumed plenty of broth and danced for 12 hours daily.’
Mila Kunis and co-star Natalie Portman portrayed on-screen rivals but are great friends in real life. Portman mentioned in the interview that she recommended Kunis for the role; photographed in Los Angeles in November 2010.
Portman won an Oscar for her performance in the psychological thriller
Black Swan will be re-release in Imax on August 21 and 24
The women say Aronofsky, 56, tried to create a similar tension between them, even though Portman had recommended Kunis for the job.
‘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.’
Portman won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Black Swan.
For fans who want to revisit the magic, or see it for the first time, Black Swann will be re-released for two days only, August 21 and 24 in Imax.
