The training Natalie had to go through to prepare for her role in "Black Swan" was quite extensive. Could you go into detail about that?
Bowers: The training that Natalie did for the movie was really intensive because the role that she played in the film is a very intense role. A ballerina who is sort of at the top if the company--she's a woman who is chosen to play the Swan Queen. So she's really the best among the best. We knew that she would be dancing so much in the film, so my job as her trainer was just to get her ready for that, to prepare her for the part, and then once we got to set to help make sure that I could do everything in my power to help her have a great performance on set, every single take.
How long did you train with Portman before the movie?
Bowers: We started a year before the film went into production. When we began training together we were doing about two hours a day--the first six months that we were working together. A combination of my Ballet Beautiful and a ballet class every day, six days a week. Added in choreography just to get her moving and dancing. Initially working on getting her stronger and improving her technique. Just bringing her up to speed. She's a beautiful dancer and she has a background in dancing as a child, but it had been many years since she had danced really regularly, on a daily basis. So the first part of the process was just getting her into a ballet studio every day.
The second part, about six months before the film went into production, that's when we went into this very intensive training period. Knowing that the film was drawing closer and her role would be so demanding we were trying to get her as close to the life of a dancer as possible, in terms of what is physically required of you. My biggest concern was that, when she got to set, she would be strong and be able to stay injury free. Ballet is so difficult and it's hard on your body and hard on your joints. It's very repetitive, so the program I put together was a combination of daily ballet class and pointe work, lots of really boring and tedious things like toe exercises, to make sure we were always working on strengthening the tops of her feet and her metatarsals. And getting her more strength and articulation through her feet. We were also doing my Ballet Beautiful program everyday, swimming a mile everyday for her stamina and endurance.
The training was hard and, like you said, tedious. Wasn't she also filming another movie during this time?
Bowers: Yes, that was the most incredible part to me! Watching how Natalie lived this life of really intensive training on top of her regular life as an actress. I was on location with her in Los Angeles and in Belfast for three months. She had a demanding role in that film. and that meant that many days, to get in our five hour minimum, waking up at 4:30 in the morning hitting the gym, we would swim--often in the morning swim a mile, do two hours of Ballet Beautiful--She would go and work a twelve hour day on set, then meet me in the ballet studio at night. Sometimes we would begin with the ballet and finish with the work in the pool.
All the time and work you spent preparing (Portman) obviously resulted in a Best Actress Award. Even with her thanking you in her acceptance speech. How was that moment for you, as her trainer?
Bowers: It was really exciting. Obviously, I'm such a huge fan of Natalie and her work and just seeing how much she put into her performance for this role. I was really there with her from those early days, that full year leading up to it and then with her every day on set. It was just a really exciting moment of course the first time I saw the film I was excited. You're just so happy to see her success and to see other people moved by her performance too. It was a wonderful moment, a really exciting night. I'm so excited for Natalie.
I understand your were invited to intend the Fox Searchlight Oscar after party. How was that?
Bowers: It was fun, we had a great time. A really nice evening, there was a lot to celebrate last night so we were just all having a great time.
It's been a great experience. I'm really proud of Natalie and inspired by her, her performance, work ethic and dedication to her art, to dancing, and doing really anything for a role. It's really incredible how she worked and prepared for this role so I just find it very inspiring to be around. I think she is an amazing woman and I feel really fortunate to have worked with her and to have been a part of this movie.
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