How Mila Kunis And Natalie Portman Really Got Along On The Set Of Black Swan
The making of "Black Swan" was a long time coming for Natalie Portman and director Darren Aronofsky, as the two had tried to get the project made for years before finally releasing it in 2010. "We had lots of conversations about the script. In fact, she helped completely change the ending of the film," the director told The Telegraph in 2011.
Working on the film was a grueling process for Portman who fully committed to the role of an emotionally disturbed ballerina. "There were some nights that I thought I literally was going to die," she told Entertainment Weekly in 2010. The "Jackie" actor was not the only one who was pushed to the limit while filming, as her "Black Swan" co-star Mila Kunis also sustained a litany of injuries. "I dislocated my shoulder two weeks before production; in the first month of rehearsal I tore my calf ligament," Kunis told Vogue U.K. in 2011.
Before embarking on the physically and emotionally draining filming process together, Portman and Kunis were friends who would often hang out on free weekends. "But Nat and I like to go to flea markets. We were in LA, flea market shopping for bargains, [because] that's what we do on a Sunday morning," the "Friends with Benefits" star told Vogue UK. Their comfortability helped make a salacious kissing/love scene between the two actors "a lot easier" to film, according to Kunis. The demanding shoot did however test the limits of their friendship.
How the director created friction between the two stars
In "Black Swan," the tension between Natalie Portman's Nina and Mila Kunis's Lily was paramount as the two played competing ballerinas. Portman believed that director Darren Aronofsky tried to create friction between the film's two stars to make their performances even more believable. "He'd say, 'Oh, Mila is doing really well on her stuff. She's so much better than you,'" the "Annihilation" actor told the Los Angeles Times in 2010. "Darren would tell us things about each other to try to make us jealous. I think he was trying to create a rivalry in real life between us."
Despite the director's efforts, there was perhaps short-lived tension but no animosity between Portman and Kunis. "We were really great friends before production. We are really great friends now," the "That '70s Show" star told the Times. Aronofsky said he wanted the pair to find their own inspiration before shooting scenes. "I didn't want them to compare notes," he told the Times.
Although the friendship between the two A-listers remained unscathed, they were pushed to their limits. "The physicality aspect of it was as close as I've ever come to just a complete mental breakdown," Kunis told She Knows in 2010. While the characters clashed on film, Portman tried to distance herself from the obsessed ballerina. "As soon as I finish a scene, I'm back to being me," she told She Knows. They remained friends, but working on the demanding movie did change the dynamic of Portman and Kunis' relationship.
Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis both changed their bodies
Even though Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis's characters were at physical and emotional odds for "Black Swan," the process of working together helped strengthen their bond. Portman was impressed by the dedication her co-star exhibited while filming. "It's great to see someone do so beautifully in a work context after you know they're just a fun, cool person," the "Thor" actor told MTV News in 2010. Portman laughed at the dichotomy between her personal and professional relationship with Kunis. "Mila and I had 'sweatpants nights' watching 'Top Chef,' and suddenly we were on set together in tutus, emaciated, and tired."
Both actors trimmed down to get into ballet shape for their roles. Portman claimed that director Darren Aronofsky challenged her to get her thinnest "without being sick," as she told the Los Angeles Times in 2010. Meanwhile, Kunis cherished the day filming ended so she could begin eating normal once again. "It took me five months to lose 20 pounds, and it took me hours to gain it back," she told Collider in 2010.
Portman and Kunis had no trouble relinquishing power to Aronofsky while shooting. "Your director is your everything and you devote yourself to them because you want to help create their vision," Portman told She Knows in 2010. Kunis discussed why she felt comfortable deferring to the director. "I always looked at Darren as a safety net, and he was absolutely great," she said to Collider. Yet, neither actor allowed the director to truly mettle in their friendship.