Dancer still upset over ‘Black Swan’
Ballet star Sarah Laneís allegations that she, not Natalie Portman, was the star of hit film Black Swan appear to ring true if new face replacement footage on the DVD is to be believed.
The American Ballet Theater star was hired to perform the most complex Swan Lake dance scenes in the film, but whereas Portman has claimed she performed 75% of what is seen in the movie, Lane insists all the dancing in the film was her, and the actress only featured in five per cent of the ballet sequences..
The dancer caused controversy when she first came forward with her claims and sheís not backing down – in a new 20/20 news special, which aired on American TV on Friday, Lane sat down with the DVD of the film and picked the intricate ballet scenes apart, stating, ìThis is all me, you can actually see my face sometimes… The full body shots with actual dancing is me.î
And the DVD release appears to back up her claims – it features bonus footage of how Portmanís face was superimposed onto hers.
Lane accepted she wouldnít be credited for her major role in the film, but felt she had to speak out when moviegoers started to believe Portman was the sole star of the movieís ballet scenes.
She added, ìI didnít do the movie to get fame or recognition, or anything… (but) Iíve been dancing for 22 years and to say that someone trained for a year and a half and did what I did… itís degrading, not only to me, but to the entire ballet world.î
Lane told 20/20 she was approached by one of Black Swanís film producers after she first came forward to dismiss Portmanís dancing claims he asked her not to speak to the press until after the Oscars, where the actress won gold.
She recalled, ì(He said) it was bad for Natalieís image.
ìBut they were trying to create this facade that Natalie had done something extraordinary, something thatís pretty much impossible – to become a professional ballerina in a year and a half.î
Lane was not surprised when Portman didnít mention her in her acceptance speech: ìI expected it. At that point I knew what was going on.î
The dancer insists she still thinks Portman deserved the Best Actress prize at the Oscars: ìI think she is a really beautiful actress and I loved working with her.î
For the record, director Darren Aronofsky appears to side with his leading lady and not the ballet star, insisting Portman performed 80 per cent of the dance scenes in his film, and his editor, Andy Weisblum, tells 20/20, ìThere are about 35 shots that are full body shots in the movie… Of those 35 shots, 12 are Natalie and the rest are Sarah, but, of the overall film, Natalie did a lot more than that she did most of the other shots. It was sometimes hard for me to tell the difference… It was so close.î
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