Mila Kunis Reveals She ‘Barely Ate’ to Prepare for Black Swan Alongside Natalie Portman

Mila Kunis Reveals Extreme Diet and Training for ‘Black Swan’ Role Alongside Natalie Portman

[Image: Mila Kunis and Natalie Portman in a tense scene from Black Swan]

Mila Kunis, 42, opened up about the grueling preparation for her role in the 2010 psychological thriller Black Swan, admitting she survived on broth and relentless dance rehearsals. In a recent Vogue interview with co-star Natalie Portman, 44, and director Darren Aronofsky, 56, Kunis revealed the physical toll of portraying ballet dancer Lily.

“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,” Kunis said. “I drank a lot of broth and danced for 12 hours a day.” Originally planned for three months, rehearsals stretched to six due to financing delays, giving Kunis and Portman extra time to hone their ballet skills.

[Image: Mila Kunis practicing ballet during Black Swan rehearsals]

Portman, who won an Oscar for her role as rival dancer Nina, shared her own challenges: “I had bruises all over my ribs from being lifted repeatedly.” Kunis also disclosed she dislocated her shoulder mid-production but recovered through acupuncture. “Darren sent me to an acupuncturist, and I came out totally fine,” she said.

The film, made on a $13 million budget, was shot in just 42 days. Portman relied on insights from a former New York City Ballet dancer turned trainer, calling it “investigative journalism via gossip during pliés.”

[Image: Natalie Portman holding her Oscar for Black Swan]

Despite their on-screen rivalry, Kunis and Portman remained close friends. Portman even recommended Kunis for the role. Aronofsky playfully stoked competition between them, with Kunis recalling, “He’d say Nat wasn’t taking weekends off. I’d text her, and she’d say, ‘No, I’m not?’ We figured out his game!”

Black Swan returns to IMAX theaters for two days only: August 21 and 24.

[Image: Poster for Black Swan IMAX re-release]

Key Takeaways:

• Kunis’s regimen: Broth + 12-hour dance days.
• Portman’s Oscar-winning performance involved intense physicality.
• The low-budget film became a critical and commercial hit.
• Re-release offers fans a chance to experience the thriller on the big screen.

[Image: Kunis and Portman laughing together at a 2010 premiere]

For fans of gripping drama and ballet’s dark side, Black Swan remains a must-watch.