Charlize Theron Interview

What was it like to travel to Minnesota and explain to the people there that you were going to tell this story on film that was such a landmark event in their community?
CT: It was really important to all of us, and within the first week we held a press conference with all the local press. It was important for us because, hell, I would be terrified if Hollywood showed up in my small community to delve into an issue that I think these people were trying to move on from. They were trying to put it in the past and wondered how that would be done. I think the most important thing was that they were really scared about the accent. There are really fearful of what they're going to sound like. So, we guaranteed them that we would do as much work as possible to really, truthfully sound like Minnesotans. The other thing was: how were the men going to be portrayed? I think it's evident in this film that the struggle that the women face is only reflected because you have to be able to understand what they struggled for. And at the end of the day, it was survival for both sexes. It doesn't justify the behavior, but these jobs are the bread and butter of the men and in this community, mining was considered theirs. It was the one thing that was theirs. Your grandfather did it; your father did it; your son did it; your brothers did it; and women were taking jobs where there weren't any jobs to be taken.
And so, we had to understand that struggle just as much as the female struggle. I think we wanted to explain to them that we weren't just focusing on what happened to the women. We wanted to have an insight on what happens to a community because I think these issues really bled into their social structure completely, for everybody. The other thing was that they felt that they shouldn't be ashamed of what had happened. And we wanted to be very clear that this wasn't an issue that was just happening in Minnesota. This was happening all over the world and still happens all over the world. And the thing to be proud of is that they were the ones who changed that. After that, we had a great time with them. They were phenomenal. They were so open. They were willing to give us any information and they just kept saying, 'Please, tell the truth.' And it was our responsibility to do that.

Sexism is a reality for every woman. I'm wondering to what extent have you experienced it?
CT: I talked to Niki about this quite extensively. We both feel very fortunate. And in a way that's almost a dangerous thing because both of us feel like, wow, we've never been in those circumstances. We've never had to deal with that and the dangers, so you then sit back and think everything is okay. So, I read the script and was like, 'is that a typo? This was settled in '95?' I couldn't believe that. Then I did some more research and realized this wasn't just something that affected rural communities. This was happening in big cities, today, with city folk. This still does happen and I think the biggest thing I realized was that we change laws but we don't change how people think overnight. That takes time and that's why we can't sit back and think that everything will be fine once the laws change. We have to keep pushing. Film, I think, is a great way to reach people and say, 'we have to change, hopefully with the next generations, how people think.'

You've been in this country almost half your life. How important was it to have grown up in another culture, to be able to objectively view this tribal situation?
CT: Well, at the end of the day we're all human beings. That's the core. That's the kernel of everything. But it is very important to understand the culture that you're dealing with because it is specific to the circumstance. I like that. It's part of my research. I do that everywhere I go. I don't ever think that I know what a certain area is like or what it's like to live there for many years. I do my best to try and get my head around understanding that. Would I do that if I was an American? Yeah, I would still do that, because it's still an area that I don't know. In many ways when I went to Minnesota, the culture felt very similar to the small town where I grew up in South Africa. So, I felt very much at home with the people. But I think at the end of the day your job is to tell human stories and if you do your homework and you understand the culture then the human aspect will be relatable to everybody, not to just to a certain specific culture.

Now that we've seen how well you can portray emotion in movies, what challenges you as an actress?
CT: The challenge is always finding the truth. It's a good challenge to have. I would say that's the bottom line. And then to work with people who want to tell the story the same way you do; I'm saying that because Warner Bros. was so incredible. I really take my hat off to them for having the courage to tell this story. I think a lot of people expect these kinds of films to come out of the independent world, so for them to just step away and really let Niki make the film that she wanted to make became a lot more helpful. I think that's one of the hardest things. I find a lot of projects that I think are incredible and sometimes it's tough to find financing or to find people who can actually go on that journey with you and take the risk when it's not just the formulated story or something that's been proven to work. Maybe it's a conflicted, not-so-pretty story? That's the hardest thing because you can't really do anything unless you get that kind of financing or support.

Are we going to be seeing you on TV this season?
CT: Yes. I'm doing five episodes of Arrested Development.

Where did that decision come from? Are you a fan of the show?
CT: I'm a huge fan of the show. Patty Jenkins, who directed Monster, did an episode. We were having dinner and she was telling me about it and I was like, 'I want to do that with you. I love that show.' So, she went and told them that I was a huge fan of the show. I'm very picky with my comedy and I think this show is written really well. So, I wasn't going to do anything for the rest of the year and they called on a Wednesday or Thursday and said, 'We have this character that shoots on Monday, five episodes; it's really crazy and wacky; you'll have a lot of fun.' So, I said, 'I'm in.' I like those surprises. I don't get a lot of opportunity to do comedy and it's something that I really love. I think people go, 'She's the one that cries all the time in movies. She's the one that's always so dramatic and getting fat and ugly.' So, when I get the opportunity to do something like that and it's that kind of quality and that kind of cast, I jumped at it, definitely.