Q&a / Charlize Theron at 46: the Oscar-winning Fast & Furious star on motherhood, adoption, and why women raised in South Africa have drive and determination
- The Oscar-winning Fast & Furious and Mad Max star talks about portraying strong women, raising two adopted daughters and the formative role her own mother played
- Hollywood actresses are forced to constantly defend themselves ‘against unfair perceptions and harassment’ – and post-#MeToo it’s now high time for change
As South African-American actress Charlize Theron turns 46 on August 7, STYLE spoke to the award-winning star of Mad Max: Fury Road and the Fast & Furious franchise about portraying strong women, balancing fame with motherhood, and the influence of her own mother on her life.
As a young actress you are always in a situation of having to defend yourself against unfair perceptions and harassment. It’s an exhausting rite of passage which I hope women can one day finally leave behind
She aims to add layers to strong female characters
“That’s very important. You want these women to be vulnerable and multilayered. When it comes to being able to overcome difficult situations and finding the determination and willpower you need to survive, women gain strength from their vulnerability and weaknesses. You know that you can find that inner resolve when you need it because you’ve been able to get through those hard times and that gives you a lot of strength and confidence. I love being able to play such women.”
Her resilience and determination have helped her survive and thrive in the entertainment industry
“It’s important to have drive and determination, and to refuse to give up when the odds are against you. I think most women raised in South Africa have these qualities. Even as a little girl, I was taught by my mother to face challenges and not run away from problems. That’s why I’ve never been someone who has crawled into a shell after things have gone wrong. I won’t allow myself to give up, I’ll just work harder and wait for the next opportunity.”
She fought against the stereotype of being an attractive young woman in Hollywood
“I had to prove to everyone that I knew what I was doing. As a young actress you are always in a situation of having to defend yourself against unfair perceptions and harassment. It’s an exhausting rite of passage which I hope women can one day finally leave behind. Women shouldn’t have to prove themselves a thousand times over to show what we’re worth. We should be free to express ourselves without living in fear of being judged unfairly.”
Her upbringing and mother shaped her independent spirit