Was there a moment when you decided to be more discerning
and selective in your roles?
I didn’t really think
of acting as a career. I’m the first person in my family to not be
a college graduate. I always associate careers with college diplomas.
When I was 22, my contract with That ’70s Show ended, and
I had to make a conscious decision about what I wanted to do with my
life. During the show, I had attempted to go to college, but I realized
that the traffic in L.A. made it too difficult for me to go to school at
6 a.m. and be back at work at 10 a.m. I asked my parents if it was okay
if I dropped out. They said okay, you can defer until after your
contract with That ’70s Show ends.
And then it ended. I realized for the first time that I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. So I had to make acting a career—to make smart choices instead of choices made for fun.
When you watch your performance in Black Swan, do
you find it strange—as if it was another life, another
person?
Before I started, I couldn’t even lift my
arm properly. I literally had no posture, so, yeah, the first time I saw
the movie, my jaw dropped. I was like, Oh, my God—I don’t
suck. And it’s great that the performance has been captured on
film, because I will never put on those pointe shoes again.
