The On-Set Injury Natalie Portman Suffered While Filming Black Swan

Natalie Portman is one of those actors who objectively "made it" in her career. She's starred in countless films, is part of major franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and "Star Wars," and has received major accolades, such as an Academy Award and a couple of Golden Globe Awards (via IMDb). Some of her best-known roles are her portrayal of the legendary Jackie Kennedy in "Jackie" and as the young Mathilda in "Léon: The Professional." 

One of Portman's most memorable projects is the macabre art film "Black Swan" from 2010. Portman received the Academy Award for best actress for her portrayal of Nina Sayers, a ballerina who becomes obsessed with her craft. The disturbing film also stars Mila Kunis as Lily, Nina's rival also competing for the lead in "Swan Lake." The film is a disturbing psychological thriller and one of Portman's rawest performances to date. 

But filming "Black Swan" was no easy feat for Kunis or Portman, as they've both been vocal about. In fact, Portman even experienced a serious physical injury while making the iconic film. 

While appearing on "The Late Show with David Letterman" to promote "Black Swan" in 2010, Portman revealed that she dislocated her rib during one scene of the movie (via YouTube). She says she was lifted and one of her ribs painfully went under another one. However, there was no on-set doctor to tend to her injuries. "I called the producer, I was like 'Could you get the medic? Because, you know, I need an ice pack or something right now,'" Portman laughed. "He was like, 'Oh, we don't have a medic,' because it was super low budget." 

While filming "Black Swan," Portman was far from a novice in Hollywood. She said that after spending 20 years in the business, she was unsure if it was even legal for a film to not have medical staff on set. "I was like, 'Before you take away a medic, take away my trailer,' and the next day I didn't have a trailer. I swear to God," she continued. In the end, it's never good for anyone to be injured at work, let alone actors filming intense scenes. But at least Portman could say that she won an Academy Award as a consolation prize.