It was 2010. People were losing their minds over a ballet movie. Not just any ballet movie, though—Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan. It was a psychological fever dream that turned pink tutus into something deeply unsettling. But let’s be real for a second. If you mention this movie to anyone who lived through that era, they aren’t talking about the pirouettes first. They’re talking about the Mila Kunis and Natalie Portman sex scene.
It became an instant pop-culture explosion. Even now, over fifteen years later, it’s the thing people Google when they’re "researching" the film’s legacy. But the story behind that scene is actually way more interesting (and a lot less glamorous) than what ended up on the screen.
Why the Mila Kunis and Natalie Portman sex scene feels so different now
When the movie dropped, the media went into a frenzy. It was everywhere. Headlines focused on the "steamy" nature of the encounter between Nina (Portman) and Lily (Kunis). But if you watch the movie today, you realize the scene isn't just about shock value or "getting guys to watch a ballet movie," as Portman jokingly once put it during the press tour.
It's actually the pivot point of the whole plot. Nina is this repressed, perfectionist "White Swan" who is literally cracking under pressure. Lily is her dark mirror—the "Black Swan" who is loose, dangerous, and totally comfortable in her own skin. The scene is Nina trying to find that darkness within herself. Honestly, it’s more of a hallucination than a romantic moment.
One of the trippiest things about the movie is that we eventually find out the encounter probably didn't even happen the way Nina remembers it. While Nina thinks she’s having this wild night with her rival, the reality is that she’s probably alone, spiraling into a psychotic break. That’s the genius of Aronofsky. He uses the Mila Kunis and Natalie Portman sex scene to trick the audience just as much as Nina is tricking herself.
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The awkward truth about filming it
You’d think a scene like that would be high-energy or intense on set. Nope.
According to both actresses, it was just plain weird. Imagine having to get intimate with one of your actual, real-life best friends while a camera crew watches. Portman and Kunis were friends long before the movie started. Natalie later admitted that being friends actually made it harder. You’re trying to be professional, but you also just want to burst out laughing because the situation is so absurd.
Mila was pretty blunt about it in interviews too. She basically said they just wanted to "get it over with." There wasn't some long, romantic buildup. It was a day at the office where you happened to be filming a sequence that would eventually cause 40 official complaints to the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). Yeah, 40 people actually took the time to write letters because they thought it was too much for a 15-rated film.
Aronofsky’s "sneaky" directing tactics
Darren Aronofsky is known for being... well, intense. During the 15th-anniversary interviews, he admitted he tried to play some mind games to get better performances.
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He wanted there to be real-life friction between the two stars. He’d tell Natalie, "Mila’s doing so well, she’s really working hard," and then tell Mila the same thing about Natalie. He was trying to spark a rivalry.
It didn't work.
They were too smart for that. Instead of getting jealous, they’d just text each other like, "Hey, Darren is saying you’re working on weekends, is that true?" and the other would reply, "Lol no, I'm at home." They bonded over how much they were suffering through the training. We’re talking 12-hour dance days and a diet of mostly almond and carrot sticks. When you’re that hungry and tired, you don't have the energy to start a fake feud with your friend.
The "male gaze" vs. artistic intent
There’s always been a debate about whether the scene was necessary. Some critics at the time felt it was just "lesbian chic" designed to sell tickets. And look, the movie did sell tickets—it made over $330 million on a tiny $13 million budget. That’s insane for an R-rated psychological horror about the New York City Ballet.
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But looking back, the scene holds up because it’s so tied to Nina’s descent into madness. It’s not "pretty." It’s frantic and edited with these sharp, jagged cuts. It feels like a fever. It wasn't about being sexy; it was about the loss of control.
Beyond the scene: A massive awards sweep
While the Mila Kunis and Natalie Portman sex scene dominated the tabloids, the industry was focused on the acting. Natalie Portman ended up sweeping the 2011 awards season. She won the Oscar, the Golden Globe, and the SAG Award.
She earned it, too. She trained for over a year. She lost 20 pounds. She even met her future husband, choreographer Benjamin Millepied, on that set. Mila Kunis also got huge props, winning the Marcello Mastroianni Award at the Venice Film Festival. It proved she could do way more than just comedy.
What we can learn from the legacy of Black Swan
If you’re a fan of cinema or just curious about how these iconic moments are made, there are a few takeaways here:
- Don't believe the hype: What looks "steamy" on screen is usually a clinical, awkward process involving dozens of crew members and lots of "can we just finish this?" energy.
- Context is everything: A scene that seems like "clickbait" can actually be the most important narrative tool in a script if it’s handled by a director who knows what they’re doing.
- Friendship wins: Even in the cutthroat world of Hollywood, Portman and Kunis's real-life bond protected them from a director trying to manipulate their emotions for the sake of "art."
If you haven't seen Black Swan in a while, it’s worth a rewatch. Focus on how the camera moves during the more intense moments. Notice how the sound design changes when Nina starts to lose her grip on reality. It’s a masterclass in tension.
To really appreciate the craft, look up the behind-the-scenes interviews from the 15th anniversary. They offer a much more grounded perspective on what it's like to create a "cultural moment" while you’re actually just trying to survive a grueling production schedule on a diet of broth.