Mila Kunis revealed the excruciating physical demands of ballet training she endured while filming Black Swan.

Kunis, who played Lily in Darren Aronofsky's 2010 psychological horror thriller, offered an honest look at the discipline behind ballet training and revealed that her training was far removed from the elegance people saw on screen.

She described ballet as “one of the most excruciating sports,” emphasizing that the dance form demands the same commitment as elite athletes.

When Collider asked her what surprised her most about ballet, Mila Kunis revealed, "The thing about ballet that I never knew about is that it’s one of the most excruciating sports that I’ve ever been a part of. I say sports because they train constantly, every single day. Your body changes."

She added that ballet enables a person to drop their shoulders and open their chest up, and a certain posture needs to be maintained, which was hard for her as she slouches naturally. So, standing up straight for three months was a challenge for her.

"And the way that they hold their arms, because they’re always moving their fingers while they’re dancing, also changes the way that they talk in real life. And the feet are different because of the ballet shoes. There are a lot of little things."

Although Kunis received acclaim for her performance, her revelation offered a closer look at the reality of ballet that is often overlooked by people. What looks like grace from afar is actually built upon extreme endurance, pain tolerance, and precision.

3 standing ballet-inspired exercises to strengthen the lower body and posture

If you want to stay fit but don't have the time for the gym, then here are three barre exercises by barre instructor Tara Riley that will help you improve your posture and mobility and strengthen your lower back.

Barre combines ballet with yoga and Pilates, and is especially great for your knees, legs, and ankles. It tests your muscles' endurance by making you do the same exercises several times.

1. Heel Raises
2. Plié
3. Plié tap

According to Riley, here is the pattern you should follow while performing these exercises:

• One set of heel raises.
• Follow it with one set of heel raises and one set of pliés.
• End the pattern with one set of heel raises, one set of pliés, and one set of plié taps.

Do you think you would be able to follow this routine? Tell us in the comments and follow Bodybuilding Bros for all things fitness!

Written by

Ruwa Javed

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu