Portman: I was close to breakdown before 'Black Swan'

Natalie Portman has revealed training for her Oscar-winning role in 'Black Swan' left her on the verge of a breakdown.

The 29-year-old actress – who is expecting her first child this summer with choreographer fiance Benjamin Millepied – told The Sun that playing scientist Jane Foster in Kenneth Branagh's comic book movie Thor helped her recover from the strain of making the ballet thriller.

Natalie said: “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 went on: “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.”