Flavorwire

9. The Black Swan Body Double

Did you know that sometimes, when you’re watching a movie, the things a character does aren’t always actually done by the actor doing them? I know, it’s a mind-blower. But often, when the rugged action star goes to step out of that airplane/outrun that fireball/flip that car, they’re not actually the one doing it — thanks to clever movie “editing,” a “double” steps in (a specialist in skyjumping/fireball-running/car-flipping) and takes over. And when an actress is playing a ballerina who has spent her entire life dancing, but only has a few months to prepare for the role, then a dancer will be brought in, to serve much the same function. Can you imagine such a thing? Sarah Lane, who served as Natalie Portman’s body double in Black Swan, decided to break this deception wide open. “I don’t want people to think that I’m here to trash Natalie and get fame for myself,” she insisted, to the Wall Street Journal. “I do want people to know that you cannot absolutely become a professional ballet dancer in a year and a half no matter how hard you work.” Great, noted. Anything else?