This Article is From Jan 08, 2011

I was barely eating during Black Swan: Natalie Portman

Highlights

  • Natalie Portman, who is favourite to get an Oscar nomination for her brilliant portrayal of a tormented dancer in Black Swan, almost stopped eating while shooting the movie.
  • The actress went through a rigorous physical training that saw her shedding pounds from her already thin frame. Portman considers it the most challenging part of her career, the Daily Mail reported.
London: Natalie Portman, who is favouriteto get an Oscar nomination for her brilliant portrayal of atormented dancer in Black Swan, almost stopped eating whileshooting the movie.

The actress went through a rigorous physical trainingthat saw her shedding pounds from her already thin frame.Portman considers it the most challenging part of her career,the Daily Mail reported.

"It was more difficult than anything I've everexperienced before. I like to go home and be myself but withthis one I didn't get the chance. It didn't leave me."I was barely eating, I was working 16 hours a day. Iwas almost method acting without intending to. I do wonder nowhow people can do this kind of role when they have a family."Portman, who is expecting a child with her balletdancer fiance Benjamin Millepied, whom she met on the set of Black Swan, is likely to face competition from AnnetteBening, Nicole Kidman, Michelle Williams, Lesley Manville andJennifer Lawrence, in the Best Actress category at theOscars.

The 29-year-old star says Daren Aronofsky first talkedabout the project about 10 years ago but later he shifted thestory to the world of ballet.Portman, who learnt ballet till the age of 12, startedmastering her steps again when the role came to her but againit was not easy.

"It was like starting from scratch. I hadco-ordination and could feel the music pretty easily but I hadto re-learn the physical movements," she said.Portman will next be seen in No Strings Attached and Your Highness with James Franco.

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