Natalie Portman accused of only doing "5 percent" of full-body dance shots by "Black Swan" double
By Jeff MillsMarch 26th, 2011, 1:50 pmComments (18) 
Sarah Lane, the American Ballet Theater soloist who served as Natalie Portman's dancing double on Black Swan, has come forward and told EW that she was the victim of a "cover-up," orchestrated by Black Swan producer Ari Handel, to downplay the extent of her actual involvement in the film. She said, "Of the full body shots, I would say five percent are Natalie. All the other shots are me." If true, this would be tantamount to Robert De Niro only boxing in five percent of his Raging Bull scenes, for which he also won an Oscar.
Lane's contention comes days after Portman's fiance, Black Swan choreographer Benjamin Millepied, claimed that Lane's work on the film was far less significant, saying, "Honestly, eighty-five percent of that movie is Natalie." Lane begged to differ. "The shots that are just her face with arms, those shots are definitely Natalie. But that doesn't show the actual dancing."
Portman previously made no secret of the fact that she required a body double for important scenes in the film, though the extent of Lane's contribution was hushed up. Lane said:
"They wanted to create this idea in people's minds that Natalie was some kind of prodigy or so gifted in dance and really worked so hard to make herself a ballerina in a year and a half for the movie, basically because of the Oscar. It is demeaning to the profession and not just to me. I've been doing this for twenty-two years... Can you become a concert pianist in a year and a half, even if you're a movie star?"
She has a point. And she insists that she isn't jealous over the critical plaudits and attention Portman has received. But if you want to be totally sure that you're looking at Portman's butt, it looks like you'll have to stick with Your Highness.
Commentarium (18 Comments)
Sigh... who cares. It's a fucking movie, it doesn't matter who did what.
Nothing is real anymore.
I don't think surprises anyone, does it?
And I don't buy the analogy to "Raging Bull." In dance movies, there's actually dancing. In boxing movies, there's no actual contact with the punches. And a lot more people know what "Swan Lake" looks like than know how Jake LaMotta actually fought.
hmm, you haven't actually seen raging bull, have you?
I've seen it, more than once
Yeah, this doesn't bother me. I'd rather they have a real dancer than someone who just picked it up.
I'm really glad she did this- as a dancer i also found the claim that Natalie Portman did all her own dance work after studying for a year and a half insulting to the field. Its not at all a dig at Natalie Portman- she did a great job in the movie, but she's not a dancer, and she shouldn't be expected to be.
I am glad she did this too... I am 15 and have done ballet for 11 years, it's my passion and what I want to do with my life and the whole "Wow Natalie Portman is so amazing for doing that ballet... she trained for a year and a half for a movie, she must be a prodigy or something" crap really makes me mad because I work so hard every day and put so much into the craft,.. this while thing just frustrates me and demeans my art!!!
Portman could have deserved the award for Best Actress for her acting, but if the movie has a nod for Best Motion Picture, give the girl credit. The dancing was a vital part to the movie. If the second clip revealed while the movie was being promoted is where she's black swan, and that wasn't her, I'd feel cheated since they led us to believe it was Portman.
Breaking news: Natalie Portman did 5% of the work Sarah Lane was hired to do. In other news, Sarah Lane did 0% of the work Natalie Portman was actually hired to do. Consequently, Natalie got 100% of Mila Kunis, and I'm not hearing any complaints about that.
I like them maths.
How is this a 'cover-up' - I don't think anyone with any sense believed that the dance scenes were ACTUALLY Portman, or that she became some sort of prodigy in a year. Portman's performance was nomanated (and awarded) because of her skill in acting, not dancing. Eighty-five percent of the dancing may have been a double, but 100% of the acting was Portman. There's a difference.
Actually, Portman also only did about 5% of the non-dancing scenes as well. The other 95% was Rip Torn. CGI.
If an ballerina can play Nina Sayers, why is Natalie the only choice? Because she is different, she can't dance as a professional but she is a great actress. The body of Nina is someone's but the face is Natalie's we can't deny. I love the way Natalie acted, her eyes, her face... Oscar is for her outstanding acting not dancing. We have to stop debating who is real dancer of Black Swan. Because when every one thinks of Black Swan, they think abt NATALIE PORTMAN not Sarah Lane or someone else.
What do you want, Sarah? You want to be as famous as Natalie. No way. You'd better shut up. You're paid for what you did and that's enough. If you are the best, you can be Nina Sayers not a replacement.
The general public does not care who the real dancer was. People who are interested in ballet, however, would want to know... and they probably do know from word-of-mouth, etc.
I think you are all missing the point here...the point is that Sarah is sexxxy as hell!
If you aren't outraged, you're not trying hard enough.