More Controversy Surrounding Natalie Portman’s Role In Black Swan

Photo: INFdaily.com

Rumors surrounding Natalie Portman’s role as a ballerina in “Black Swan” have been swirling for a while now. Portman, who won an Oscar for the role, and producers claim that she filmed a majority of the scenes in the movie. Costar Mila Kunis and choreographer Benjamin Millepied have also spoken out in support of the actress and her skills as a dancer.  However, accusations have arisen that a body double did more of the work than Natalie did.

Now, the dancer who worked as Portman’s body double is finally speaking out herself.  Sarah Lane alleges that the producers ordered her to stay quiet about how much work she did for the film.

“He asked if I would please not do any more interviews until after the Oscars because it was bad for Natalie’s image. They were trying to create this image, this facade, really, that Natalie had done something extraordinary. Something that is pretty much impossible… to become a professional ballerina in a year and half. Even with as hard as she worked, it takes so much more. It takes twenty-two years, it takes thirty years to become a ballerina.”

Lane also believes that ignoring the roles of the dancers and body doubles in many of the scenes “degrades the hard work of lifelong dancers.”

“There’s so much emotionally that goes into motivating yourself and being able to physically push yourself to reach a certain level, that you have to reach to be a professional ballerina with one of the biggest ballet companies in the world and to sustain that standard over a whole career. I’ve been doing this for 22 years, and to say that someone trained for a year and a half and did what I did is degrading not only to me but to the entire ballet world.”