Bold Beautiful

Charlize Theron is one of Hollywood’s most outspoken and fearless women. Here, we talk about her latest role, turning the big 4-0 and the person who inspires her most in life

The brazen attitude that the statuesque South African actress brings towards life is every bit a match for her striking beauty and independent streak. In fact, Charlize Theron gives the impression that she could take on any man. Her performance in last year’s critically-acclaimed blockbuster Mad Mad: Fury Road gave further proof that she’s a female road warrior on and off the film set. Charlize makes her way to Singapore this April to meet fans and promote her new film, The Huntsman: Winter’s War, along with costars Chris Hemsworth and Jessica Chastain. This movie is the anticipated follow-up to 2012’s Snow White and The Huntsman. Charlize returns as Queen Ravenna in the film. Charlize, who turned 40 last August, celebrated that birthday by adopting a baby girl, August, to join her adopted son, Jackson, now four. Prior to that, she ended her relationship with Sean Penn. Having a positive experience with Jackson influenced her decision to adopt a second child. "I feel like I can't remember anything prior to Jackson, like it was always just meant to be. Every day I'm like 'It's not possible to love you more. Then 20 minutes later you're like 'Oh my! How is this possible!'" she says. She shares that having kids has made her life more meaningful, and she's started thinking about the legacy she wants to leave behind.

Charlize grew up in South Africa with a father she has characterised as an abusive alcoholic. In 1991, Gerda, her mother, fatally shot him after he came home in a drunken rage and threatened to kill her and the then-15-year-old Charlize. At age 18, she went to New York to study ballet, after having spent a year as a model in Europe. After wrecking her knee, she turned to acting after her mother exhorted her not to give up on her dreams of performing. She’s received accolades for many movies – most notably winning an Oscar for her hellish portrayal in Monster, and has also been celebrated for her beauty – she’s the face of Dior J’adore. She’s presently working on her next movie, The Coldest City.

How do you feel about life these days?

You’re the mother of two and your career seems to be as interesting and engaging as ever. “I feel really lucky. I’m doing interesting work and I’m very satisfied creatively with the kinds of characters I’m getting to play.”

Has turning 40 had much of an impact on you?

“I’m much happier being in my 40s than I was in my 20s. As an actress, I’m having more opportunities than ever and I think Hollywood is beginning to realise that actresses don’t die at 40. We’ve got to continue making progress and find more stories and more great roles for women that reflect our strength and importance in society.”

You’re returning to the role of Ravenna now. What is your impression of the character?

“I’m so happy to be part of these films that have extended and reinterpreted the original fairy tale which is such an iconic story. From the beginning I loved the idea of approaching an epic and classic tale and standing it on its head a bit and exploring many different themes to that world.”

How do you get into her evil side?

“She has her evil side but she is also much more than that. I’ve enjoyed playing Ravenna and being part of that fantasy world makes me feel like a teenager. It’s very easy to become part of it and be able to explore your imagination that way. Playing a character like that also gives you the freedom to say things and do things that you would normally never do. Maybe that’s the kind of thing that is so seductive about playing a villain.”

Were you a big lover of fairy tales as a child?

“No, I was more interested in African folklore that I grew up with. But I still remember when I told my mother than I wanted to be a mermaid. My mother saw me one day lying in a pond and she asked me, ‘What are you doing in the water? And why are you swimming in such a funny way?’ And I replied, ‘I’m a mermaid!’”

Do you think that little girls might get a false sense of life when they grow up with fairy tales about Prince Charming riding up on a horse?

“No, not at all. I think it’s important that children have fairy tales in their lives. And sometimes we as women like to feel like princesses when we wear long dresses and beautiful shoes. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that women are stupid or naive and can’t be leaders in society.”

Playing dark or dangerous women seems to come fairly easily to you?

“I went through a traumatic event when I was young and somehow that kind of experience shapes you. It enables you to understand darkness and tragedy. But I don’t ever let my work drag me down into my characters’ problems. I’m a pretty happy person and that probably makes it easier for me to go back to my normal self. I also hate the idea of making myself miserable and letting that spill over into my life with my friends or colleagues, and spoiling everything that I enjoy about acting and the kind of beautiful life I have.”

What do you think makes you a very resilient and independent-minded woman?

“I owe most of that to my mother. She’s the strongest woman I’ve ever known and she has always been my greatest guide in life and taught me to never dwell on what has gone wrong in the past and just move on. That’s the only way I know how to live and it makes the most sense to me. You have to be willing to take chances and not wind up being someone who regrets not having made the most of your opportunities.”

Did growing up in the bush on a farm in South Africa also made you a much tougher individual?

“A big part of my life is shaped by that and when you grow up on a farm you learn to ride horses and take care of odd jobs and not just go home and watch TV after school. You learn a lot when you get up on a farm, especially in Africa.”

You’re a UN Messenger for Peace and you’re also the founder of the “Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project” (CTAOP) which carries on the fight against AIDS. How important is that work to you?

“As someone who grew up in South Africa, I consider it still to be my home. It’s in my blood. It still shocks a lot of people when I tell them that South Africa currently has the highest number of people living with HIV in the world. We are one per cent of the world’s population but an estimated 18 per cent of the world’s HIV positive population. I founded CTAOP because I wanted to use the opportunity I have been given to make a change. HIV is 100 per cent preventable. Sometimes it seems like we all forget that – and I’m hoping CTAOP can be a vehicle to empower and enable young people, and a voice to remind everyone that this fight isn’t over, but we can end it together.”

How has motherhood changed your vision of the world and your motivation to engage yourself in HIV projects?

“Nothing makes you understand and hold onto the preciousness of life more than being a parent. It’s so vital that young people value themselves and their lives, because their decisions not only shape their own future but our collective future. We have to give them all the tools, support and empowerment they need to be able to lead healthy, productive lives. We forget how hard adolescence is. If anything, being a mother has strengthened my commitment and made me more motivated to invest in the lives of youth.”

You’re often described as a very self-assured woman. Do you think some men find that intimidating?

“I’ve met all types of men in my life. What I’ve found is that most men’s reactions to me are a reflection of their own insecurities that have nothing to do with me. It really speaks about their character and not mine. I’ve never tried to appear less forceful or be less assertive in order to make a man feel more secure or feel better. I never wanted to compromise, otherwise I would not be happy. I’ve always wanted a man who recognises my dreams and goals, and appreciates all those aspects of my character and is confident enough in his own self not to feel threatened by that.