Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · August 16, 2025 · Entertainment

Mila Kunis Reveals Extreme Diet for 'Black Swan' Role: Barely Ate to Dance!

Mila Kunis revealed that while working on the Oscar winning film Black Swan, she had to stay far away from the craft services table

EXCLUSIVE: The Darkest Secrets Behind Black Swan Revealed!

Get ready for a juicy scoop, folks! We're spilling the tea on the making of the Oscar-winning film Black Swan, and it's a wild ride. Mila Kunis, Natalie Portman, and director Darren Aronofsky dished out all the juicy details in an exclusive interview with Vogue.

The Unholy Prep Work

'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,' the actress, 42, told Vogue. 'I drank a lot of broth and danced for 12 hours a day'

Mila Kunis, 42, revealed that she had to adopt a supermodel-esque diet while working on Black Swan. Yes, you read that right – she ate very little during filming! In her own words, "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 confessed that she drank broth like water and danced for 12 hours a day. We can only imagine how intense those dance sessions must have been!

The Financial Struggle

It turns out that the production of Black Swan was plagued by financial woes. The film had an initial budget of just $13 million, which is peanuts compared to today's blockbuster budgets. But here's the kicker – the financing fell through, and the team lost three months of prep time. However, this setback turned into a blessing in disguise for Kunis and Portman. "We were only supposed to have three months of prep before filming started, but we lost some financing, so that got extended to six months while Darren tried to find money," explained Kunis.

Kunis and co-star Natalie Portman played rivals on-screen, but they two are actually good friends.  Portman revealed in the interview she had recommended Kunis for the role;  Pictured in Los Angeles in November 2010

The Unlikely Friendship

Natalie Portman, 44, shared a heartwarming anecdote about the experience. She revealed that she spent hours talking with her trainer, who was a former New York City Ballet dancer, about the world of ballet. "It was like doing investigative journalism, but I was just gossiping with her while doing pliés," Portman said with a smile.

The Physical Toll

Both Kunis and Portman opened up about the grueling physical demands of filming Black Swan. Kunis admitted to getting bruises all over her ribs from being lifted repeatedly during dance scenes. "I also dislocated my shoulder pretty early in the production and thought I was completely screwed, but Darren sent me to an acupuncturist and I somehow came out totally fine," she shared.

The Tension Between Portman and Kunis

Rumor has it that there was some tension between Portman and Kunis during filming. But don't worry, folks – it's all in good fun! Aronofsky allegedly tried to create a rivalry between the two actresses by comparing their work ethic. "Darren would tell me, 'Nat is working really, really hard. She's not even taking Saturdays and Sundays off,'" Kunis recalled.

Black Swan will be re-release in Imax on August 21 and 24

The Oscar Win

Portman took home the coveted Best Actress award for her performance in Black Swan at the 83rd Academy Awards. And let's be real – it was well-deserved! Her portrayal of Nina Sayers is still widely regarded as one of the greatest performances of all time.

Revisit the Magic (For Two Days Only!)

Black Swan will be re-released for two days only, August 21 and 24, in IMAX. If you're a fan of the film or want to experience it on the big screen, mark your calendars! Don't miss this chance to relive the magic.

There you have it, folks – the untold story behind Black Swan's success. Stay tuned for more juicy gossip and exclusives from TheScholarlyNote.com!