15 Years of Black Swan: Mila Kunis Reflects on Intense Preparation for Her Role

Los Angeles — Hollywood star Mila Kunis delivered a career-defining performance in Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan (2010), but the process behind the film was anything but easy.

Speaking to Vogue on the occasion of the film’s 15th anniversary — alongside co-star Natalie Portman and director Aronofsky — Kunis opened up about the extreme preparation required to portray a professional ballerina.

“My training was basically nonstop dancing and barely any eating, which I know sounds terrible, but it’s the truth,” Kunis revealed in the interview, as quoted by People. “I lived on broth and danced for 12 hours a day.”

Originally given three months to prepare before shooting, Kunis explained that delays in financing extended rehearsal time to six months. “It was tough for Darren, but Natalie and I were thrilled because it meant more time to train and dance,” she said.

The Luckiest Girl Alive actress also recalled the physical toll of the role, including painful injuries from long dance sequences. “I had bruises all over my ribs from being lifted again and again,” she said. “I even dislocated my shoulder early on and thought I was done. But Darren sent me to an acupuncturist, and somehow, I came out fine.”

Portman, who played Nina, also shared the surprising way Kunis landed the role of Lily, Nina’s rival. “Mila and I had been friends for years,” Portman said. “One day at the Rose Bowl Flea Market, I was telling her about this ballet movie I was making. Mila mentioned her experience with pointe shoes, and I thought, ‘Wait, you did ballet?’ I called Darren right away and said she’d be perfect.”

With inputs from IANS