THE EIGHTER
CHARLIZE THERON PAUSES and considers. “I mean, who the fuck did I think I was?”
It’s early May, and over the phone from locked-down Los Angeles, the South African-born actor is musing incredulously on her formative career choices. Having rocked up in Hollywood, aged 18, with $300 to her name, she proceeded to spend the next few years turning down film work. Her first manager would call up with offers to play all manner of scantily clad two-dimensional ditzes, then blow his top when Theron refused them. “He was like: ‘What is wrong with you? You have to work!’” she laughs.
“I knew I was lucky to be getting offered roles, but I also knew I couldn’t just keep playing sexy girls. I was willing to sacrifice everything to hold out for something different.”
“LOOKING BACK, IT WAS CRAZY ”
It’s fair to say that sacrifice paid off. Since bagging an Academy Award for her portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in 2003’s (“one of the greatest performances in the history of the cinema,” according to Roger Ebert), Theron has established herself as a Jack — and master — of all screen trades. She can do action ( , ), she can do comedy ( , ), she can do weird, dark dramedy ( and , her superb collaborations with Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody). And every so often, she’ll fire off another critically lauded, - level transformation — most recently as Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly in the searing sexual-harassment drama, . The reason— a gritty superhero outing for Netflix, and the latest in a long line of films that Theron has produced as well as starred in. Based on Greg Rucka’s graphic novel about a team of immortal soldiers, Theron plays mercenary-in-chief Andromache of Scythia (‘Andy’ to pals), who’s been kicking arse and taking names since well before the birth of Christ and is, understandably, pretty jaded as a result. Our conversation meanders all over Theron’s thrillingly unpredictable career — but first let’s get one thing straight...
