We can’t help but love Charlize Theron. She’s one of Hollywood’s most outspoken actors, she’s fiercely talented and her red-carpet game is always on point.
We’re clearly not the only ones to love the Oscar winner, as she has just been nominated for her second Best Actress Award following her performance in Bombshell. Will 2020 be the year she takes home a companion for her 2004 trophy? For the physical transformation alone, we think it may well be.
Despite her uncanny portrayal of Megyn Kelly, a news anchor whose experience of sexual harassment at Fox News is documented in the film, Charlize chose not to prepare for the role by meeting Megyn before filming. The actress stated: ‘With Megyn, it was incredibly intimidating… I think it’s too much pressure on her too… I felt bad to even put her in that position where she had to, like, sit across from me and [I] ask her questions’. She went on to explain that she doesn’t usually meet biopic characters – instead she researches her roles, but mysteriously won’t reveal how she undertakes her research.
Aside from mentally preparing to play such a public figure, Charlize also had to physically morph into the role which involved three hours of makeup every day. The film’s prosthetic makeup designer, Kazu Hiro, revealed to the Los Angeles Times that the ‘final design included eyelids, nose tip, nose plug, chin and jaw’. Hiro explained: ‘I had to figure out the most important elements to add to Charlize’s face to make her resemble Megyn. I had to keep it lean because I didn’t want to cover her entire face so that she could easily act with the makeup on. After I took a life cast of Charlize and a 3-D scan of her face, I made a nose plug to enlarge her nostrils and a nose tip because Megyn’s nose is turned up a little bit.’
Charlize stated in an interview that ‘it is the job of an actor to transform’ and that she was fed-up with being typecast. Being known as one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood was not enough for Charlize, who would rather be known for her art. This may explain why she’s so up for altering her image to suit a role.
Charlize looked unrecognisable when she played serial-killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster. For this Oscar-winning role, she gained 30 pounds and wore prosthetic teeth. Similarly, in 2018, while playing a mother-of-three in Tully, she packed on 35 pounds which reportedly put her ‘in a massive depression’. Her role in Atomic Blonde lead to her having extensive dental surgery as she was clenching her teeth during fight scenes. Now that’s dedication.
We look forward to seeing what Charlize does next. Hopefully we'll recognise her.