Natalie Portman Says Gruelling Black Swan Training Left Her With a 'Misplaced Rib'

Natalie Portman, the Academy Award-winning actress and producer of the 2026 Oscar-nominated film Arco, has sparked fresh health conversations after revealing that her legendary commitment to the 2010 thriller Black Swan left her with a 'misplaced rib', offering a rare glimpse into the bodily cost behind one of Hollywood's most celebrated performances.

During a candid appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show on Wednesday, 28 January 2026, the 44-year-old star detailed how the relentless physical demands of professional ballet, specifically being repeatedly lifted and twirled, physically shifted her skeletal alignment. While promoting her current slate of projects, including the upcoming Rosalind Franklin biopic and the Sundance hit The Gallerist, Portman's reflections on the 'wild' rigour of her training serve as a stark reminder of the extreme physical toll high-stakes method acting can demand.

The injury occurred during repeated lifts and spins while rehearsing demanding choreography, underscoring how the film's pursuit of realism blurred the line between acting and elite athletic performance. More than a decade on, Portman's reflection has reignited discussion about method-level preparation in cinema, the physical sacrifices actors quietly make, and why Black Swan remains a benchmark for total immersion in a role.

The Physical Toll Of Perfection: Natalie Portman's Rib Injury Explained

The term 'misplaced rib', as Portman described it to Drew Barrymore, refers to a painful condition in which a rib slips out of its normal alignment, often identified in sports medicine as slipping rib syndrome or interchondral subluxation. Portman attributed the injury to the sheer volume of 'lifts' performed during the production of Black Swan. The actress noted that the sensation of the rib 'going under' was a direct result of the repetitive torque and pressure applied to her torso by dance partners during filming.

While the injury was a temporary setback during her 2010 Oscar run, it highlights the 'really hard job' described by director Darren Aronofsky. Portman wasn't just acting; she was functioning as a professional-grade athlete, maintaining a core strength and flexibility that eventually pushed her frame past its biological limit.

She said the repetitive lifts and intense rehearsals were 'really wild', showing extraordinary physical commitment required for the role of Nina Sayers, a ballerina whose obsession with perfection leads to a deadly psychological effect.

Five Hours Of Daily Torture: Inside The 'Black Swan' Workout

Former New York City Ballet dancer Mary Helen Bower, who trained Portman for the role, provided context for the sheer intensity of the preparation.

According to EW, Bower explained that Portman's sessions often lasted five hours per day, six days a week, and included classical ballet, toning exercises, swimming, and endurance work.

Bower described early mornings beginning at 5:00 am, with two to three hours of ballet before Portman would head to a full 12-hour workday on set. After filming, she would meet Bower again in the evening for further conditioning, including strength and swimming exercises.

'Then she goes home and goes to sleep, and the next day we do it all over again', Bower said, saying that thetraining was not only repetitive and but also an exhausting moment that lasted for months.

The Role of Dedication in an Oscar-Winning Performance

Portman's preparation was widely recognised as instrumental in her 2010 Academy Award win for Best Actress. Director Darren Aronofsky has spoken in featurettes about the 'really hard job' Portman undertook, balancing precise camera movements with the psychological demands of the character.

Besides, the misplaced rib is only a temporary injury rather than a permanent condition. In interviews, she explained that, like many dancers, the pain came from intense physical strain and that, after adjustments to how lifts were done and proper rest, the rib eventually settled back into place. Long‑term effects were not reported, and such injuries typically heal fully with time and rest as the body returns to its natural alignment.

Portman's commitment did not end with Black Swan. She later took more physically demanding roles in films such as Jackie (2016), where she portrayed former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, and in the animated film Arco, which, while less physically strenuous, required vocal training.

2026 Projects: From Animated Oscars To Science History

Today, Portman's professional focus has shifted towards projects that celebrate women's contributions without the threat of 'misplaced' bones. Her latest venture, the animated sci-fi film Arco, has been nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 2026 Academy Awards. Portman, who serves as executive producer and voices Iris's mother, noted that working in a voice booth allowed her to be 'valued for what you bring and not what's on the outside', a sharp contrast to the physical scrutiny of her ballet days.

Looking ahead to March 2026, Portman is set to begin filming Photograph 51, a biographical drama directed by Tom Hooper. She will portray Rosalind Franklin, the British scientist whose work was instrumental in the discovery of the double-helix structure of DNA. This role, along with her recent call-out of the 2026 Oscar nominations for snubbing female directors, solidifies her status as a power player who prioritises advocacy and intellectual depth over gruelling physical transformations.