Mila Kunis’s Diet was Extremely Restrictive During the Filming of Black Swan with Natalie Portman

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 in an interview with co-star Natalie Portman and director Darren Aronofsky that she ate very little during the filming of 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 mentioned, ‘We were initially set to have three months of preparation before shooting began, but due to losing some financing, it stretched to six months as Darren sought additional funding.’

‘It sucked for Darren, but Nat and I were so happy because we had three extra months to dance.’

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.

‘A surprising outcome of the physical training was that I spent a year deeply discussing with my trainer, who was a former New York City Ballet dancer. He shared countless stories that provided vivid details and insight into that world,’ she added.

‘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.

‘I also dislocated my shoulder pretty early in the production and thought I was completely screwed, but Darren sent me to an acupuncturist and I somehow came out totally fine.’ 

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. 

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.