Mila Kunis and Natalie Portman, close friends in real life, didn’t anticipate how unusual the circumstances on set would be.
Black Swan tells the story of Nina, a ballerina whose passion for dance dominates every aspect of her life. When the artistic director decides to replace his prima ballerina for the opening night of Swan Lake, Nina becomes his top choice. However, she faces competition from newcomer Lily. While Nina is the perfect embodiment of the White Swan, Lily represents the Black Swan. As their rivalry evolves into a twisted friendship, Nina’s darker side begins to emerge.
Natalie Portman won the only Academy Award of her career in 2011 thanks to the success of Black Swan. The film earned four additional Oscar nominations that year: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Film Editing. It was a sensational box office success, grossing over $300 million worldwide on a budget of around $13 million.
Portman played Nina, and Kunis played her rival, Lily. Together they faced an awkward moment while filming an intimate scene. As soon as Portman was cast, she knew exactly who would be perfect for Lily. She suggested her friend Mila Kunis to director Darren Aronofsky, and when Kunis came in for auditions, he immediately agreed.
A few months after the film’s release, Portman gave an interview in which she explained why she was so enthusiastic about recommending her friend for the role. What she hadn’t fully anticipated was the nature of certain scenes they would have to film together. She later admitted that it might have been easier to perform such a scene with someone she didn’t know personally, but having a close friend on set made it possible for them to laugh, joke, and navigate the challenges together.
While the chemistry between their characters on screen was intense, their friendship remained strong throughout the production. Aronofsky even tried to create distance between them to ignite tension, but their bond proved too strong to break. He arranged for them to undergo ballet training at different times and would tell each actress that the other was doing better, attempting to spark competitiveness. However, they shared information and quickly realized what he was doing.
Since then, the two friends haven’t worked together on any other projects.
