(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Natalie Portman thinks appearing in Thor stopped her having a total breakdown.
The actress began shooting the superhero movie after she had filmed psychological thriller Black Swan, in which she played a troubled ballerina. Natalie won an Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA for the part but the intense training regime she followed had a huge effect on her. She worked out daily and danced almost every day for a year, which she thinks might have done lasting damage had she not been able to move onto more light-hearted projects.
It probably delayed the onset of a total breakdown from the efforts of doing Black Swan, which is going to hit at any moment, she explained to British newspaper The Sun.
"We got nice long breaks and I got to read in my trailer which was very comfortable and has a bed. I could eat whenever I wanted and train whenever I felt like it.
"Also I went on to do the Ivan Reitman comedy No Strings Attached as well. They didn't require a lot of research ahead of time They were both the gentlest of any work experience I could have gone into after the extreme situation of doing Black Swan."
The 29-year-old plays Jane Foster in Thor, with Chris Hemsworth portraying the titular warrior. Jane is a scientist and also Thors love interest and Natalie was keen to explore her personality fully. She wanted to ensure fans liked her and were interested in her story, rather than just seeing her as a good-looking character.
Hopefully she has a bit of personality. I wanted her to be like the absent-minded kind of professor but a girl, instead of science girl with glasses talking scientific mumbo jumbo, she explained. "I think to make her more of a person. Normally when I see these characters in these movies I tune out, whereas if it's a person who is flawed and usual it's more interesting to watch."
The movie is directed by Kenneth Branagh, which is another reason Natalie took part. She says working with him was a dream, before admitting she was nervous ahead of shooting which is something she always looks for.
I'm scared of everything. That's usually the sign I should do something, if I'm scared, she revealed. "If I do something I'm not scared of, I get bored then do a bad job. (C) Cover Media