Darren Aronofsky did the math, and it’s official: Natalie Portman was responsible for 80% of the dancing in Black Swan. This number is close to Benjamin Millepied‘s estimated 85%, and a far cry from body double Sarah Lane‘s 5% claim.
Like any responsible director, Aronofsky had the film’s editor go through the final cut of the movie and count the number of scenes that feature Portman doing her thing: “There are 139 dance shots in the film. 111 are Natalie Portman untouched. 28 are her dance double Sarah Lane. If you do the math that’s 80% Natalie Portman. Natalie sweated long and hard to deliver a great physical and emotional performance. And I don’t want anyone to think that’s not her they are watching. It is.”
So, now we know! This weekend the filmmakers issued a response to Lane’s heated defense explaining that Portman did in fact do most of the dancing herself, but the number crunching settles the case once and for all. We’re glad this story is finally done, but that’s not to say Lane won’t come back with a rebuttal. However, we wouldn’t advise she do so.
[LA Times]