Natalie Portman Slammed by Her Black Swan Dance Double
Credit: Billy Farrell/BFAnyc/Sipa; Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage
Black Swan blackout!
Sarah Lane, the American Ballet Theater dancer who acted as Natalie Portman's dance double in the hit film, has a gripe with the Oscar-winning star and the film's execs.
Lane alleges she was told by executives at Fox Searchlight to stop speaking publicly about her work in the movie so that Portman could take the credit for the amazing dance moves herself.
"They were trying to create this facade that she had become a ballerina in a year-and-a-half," she told Dance Magazine in December. "So I knew they didn't want to publicize anything about me."
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In interviews, Portman talked frequently about how grueling it was to master ballet techniques for the intense psychological drama. Yet when she won her Academy Award for the acclaimed performance, the actress failed to acknowledge Lane during her acceptance speech. Lane was also apparently deleted from a DVD extra showing Black Swan's special effects.
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Rising up in Portman's defense? Benjamin Millepied, Black Swan's choreographer and now Portman's fiance (and father to the pregnant star's unborn child). Lane "just did the footwork and the fouettes and one diagonal in the studio," Millepied, 33, recently told the L.A. Times. "Honestly, 85% of that movie is Natalie."
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20I agree with Sarah Lane because there's no way Natalie Portman could have mastered those techniques in a year and a half of what takes most of those Ballet dancers half a lifetime. Yeah 85% of the "acting" is definitely Natalie and the movie is hers but the dancing no way. I hate when Hollywood doesn't acknowledge the dancers and the people behind the scenes who make these "actors" look brilliant. At least in Flashdance they fully acknowledged body double Marine Jahan for Jennifer Beals.
I think this is rediculous! I never thought that Natalie did all the dancing in this movie! Common sense tells you she would need a stunt double! I think her weight loss transformation alone is testament to her dedication as an actress! I don't feel deceived at all!
Come on, a double mad that they didnt get the due credit. If she wanted to be the star get a staring roll. Natalie is an actor and they act, they dont have to be an elite dancer, that is where the double comes in. You dont hear tom cruise or matt damon's double saying I can kill and maim people better than tom or matt I should get more credit. Become a better actress and you can star in a role
I agree 100% with everything Jane Johnson said. She is absolutely right...--->"It doesn't matter if Sarah didn't do any "acting" - the whole Oscar charade was that Natalie "transformed" into a dancer and it was all Natalie - we are now finding out that it wasn't. They couldn't admit that Natalie needed help because that would mean less Oscar buzz over her "transformation." --Sooo true...
@Jane I'm not a math major, but if Natalie did 85% and Sarah did 15%, Natalie did "most" of the dancing. Your personal disdain for Natalie is evident in your childish comments and undermine whatever argument you have.
@Karinna, Sarah Lane is not looking for notoriety. She is defending her craft against Black Swan, Inc., who insist that Natalie did most of the dancing. Sarah is just letting everyone know that no, Natalie didn't do most of the dancing. Just because you are anonymous in a movie doesn't mean you are anonymous in real life. Sarah Lane is a distinguished professional dancer and has every right to defend her craft. This holier-than-thou attitude is typical for Natalie and her followers, who think she can do no wrong just because she went to Harvard. Contrary to popular belief, Natalie's sh.t DOES stink, just like everyone else's.
You are supposed to be anonymous dear. That's the point. The director would like it to appear that the ACTORS are dancing. Its a movie, it is make-believe---get it? Ms. Portman did not win an Oscar because of your "twinkle toes". She won for acting. Ms. Lane is not the star of the movie--she filled in parts that someone with only one year of training (no matter how difficult) could not accomplish. We all know that Ms. Portman is not really a professional ballerina. The public isn't stupid. The movie probably had several (dancer/doubles). While Ms. Lane may work again as a dancer on stage, I doubt she will get much film or television work after this silly "scandal".
I find all the "she'll never work in this town again!!!!" talk to be hysterical. Sarah Lane is a soloist in American Ballet Theater. This is one of the greatest parts a ballerina could ever get. I doubt Sarah is starved for work or ever will be. Natalie, her babydaddy and the studio are frauds and Sarah has the right to speak up and defend her work. The babydaddy started all this and should have kept his mouth shut.
It doesn't matter if Sarah didn't do any "acting" - the whole Oscar charade was that Natalie "transformed" into a dancer and it was all Natalie - we are now finding out that it wasn't. They couldn't admit that Natalie needed help because that would mean less Oscar buzz over her "transformation." If they weren't trying to hide it, then why was Sarah morphing into Natalie deleted from the DVD?
I dont understand where Sara's issue is. Natalie had said on several interviews that she was her body double. Natalie did not win the OSCAR for dancing, she won it for ACTING, and why should she recognize a "double" during her acceptance speech who only was a small part of the movie (dancing aspect). If that was the case, maybe she should have spent 3 hours going over a list of all the other people in the movie that did not have supporting or main roles, you know like the dude that turns the lights on in the morning etc. This girl just wants attention, and its sad because as good of a dancer she is, she will prob. never work in hollywood again after this...
@Nichell There were two body doubles.
I guess Lane does not understand what her job is all about: she's the double, not the star. Body/dance/stunt doubles are part of the illusion of magick in film making. Their jobs REQUIRE anonymity or it destroys the illusion that they are hired to create. At least Lane won't have to worry about this in the future because I seriously doubt she'll ever find work as a dance double again. Maybe she'll have to go back to dancing in the chorus line or if she's really really lucky, a dance company might hire her (if she's good enough...dancing on film is VERY different from dancing on stage where there is only ONE TAKE)
Body doubles never get credit..there are doubles with "perfect" bodies filling in for the females, stunt men and women in the action movies galore, never get the proper credit. Celebrities are so self centered and egotistical.
@Nichell - there were a couple of body doubles and dancers. There's an article on Kimberly at "dance bloggers" where she acknowledges Sarah Lane as another dancer and body double. Google it.
stuntmen & women never recieve the credit bcz that's not what they're jobs are about. they take on the risks, dangers, and anything else the actor is unable or unwilling to do. that's what they're there for. everybody knows being a stunt double is NOT the limelight position. besides her name would be in the credit to show her part in the movie.
The worst thing is, this Sara Lane person wasn't Natalie's dance OR body double. I know the actual person very well, and it is NOT this Sara Lane. Her name is Kimberly Prosa, and lives in NYC. Ask Natalie herself, this Sara Lane is a poser.
every one knows most actors have stand ins and stunt doubles ect. Even Kevin Bacon had a dance double in foot loose. This women is not going to work long if she continues to complain.. Give me a break we all knew Natalie wasn't a ballet Dancer. She is an actress and thats what they do. act..
it sounds like sour grapes to me. while I agree with the others, Natalie won an oscar for acting not dancing. And while maybe she should of thanked her, i think during those speeches it is hard to thank everyone who was a part of the project. i think Sara is just looking for her 5 mintues of fame and needless to say she got it even if it is negative.
very well said. Natalie won the award for ACTING not DANCING, Sara should know her right place & stop all this crap.
Who cares chick, get over it!!! She is an actress, NOT a ballerina, so it was probably a lot more physically grueling for her, then yourself who is a TRAINED professional. You were paid as a double not cast as the lead role so why are you seeking publicity if that is the case use your "STAR POWER" to become famous and see how far you get. You should be seeking fame in your profession the dance world, isn't that who you really would like to be recognized by.