Natalie Portman and actor Vincent Cassel attend the "Black Swan" photocall during the 67th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2010 in Venice, Italy.
Natalie Portman (wearing a red dress custom-made by Rodarte with Swarovski crystals), Darren Aronofsky and Vincent Cassel attend the Opening Ceremony during the 67th Venice Film Festival at the Sala Grande Palazzo Del Cinema on September 1, 2010 in Italy.“One of the best things about the film is the casting of Natalie. She took the part and ran with it. I don't know if when I was working with the writers we were consciously channeling Natalie or Natalie somehow transformed herself to the part, but they grew together. I first talked with Natalie about this project at least 10 years ago. We were in Times Square and had a coffee at the old Howard Johnson. I had this idea of setting something in the ballet world. It was very loose. I didn't have a script. And then I found out she was fascinated by ballet and wanted to play a dancer.” -Darren Aronofsky