Some women choose to follow men and some women choose to follow their dreams. If you're wondering which way to go, remember that your career will never wake up and tell you that it doesn't love you anymore.
-Lady Gaga
Natalie Portman trained for an entire year for Black Swan (2010) before even reading the script.
She paid for her own ballet lessons, lost 20 pounds, and worked through injuries. Darren Aronofsky said that commitment was essential to the film.