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Natalie Portman Says She 'Misplaced a Rib' Filming Black Swan

Her new detail from a Drew Barrymore interview highlights the months of ballet conditioning she undertook with trainer Mary Helen Bower.

Overview

  • Portman said the rib injury occurred from being lifted repeatedly during dance sequences for the 2010 film.
  • She shared the account on Wednesday’s episode of The Drew Barrymore Show, calling the experience “really wild.”
  • Trainer Mary Helen Bower described a regimen starting before dawn with two to three hours of ballet, followed by toning and mile swims, six days a week for months.
  • Director Darren Aronofsky has noted the role required technically precise movement for the camera in addition to the acting demands.
  • Portman has previously discussed other physical tolls from the role, including a concussion and weight loss, while acknowledging professional dancers often endure even harsher injuries.