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Charlize the Activist
RD: How were they treated?Theron: There was a lot of verbal abuse, and a couple of times things got physical. It got pretty ugly. But the great thing about this story is that it's not black and white -- men being bad, women being good. It's about people trying to survive in a small town where things are really difficult.
RD: Have you ever personally experienced sexual harassment?
Theron: I think the most important thing my mother instilled in me was that if you walk in a room weak, people will take advantage of you. If you send off the energy that says, "Look. I'm smart. Don't try to pull one over on me," that's not going to happen. People talk about the casting couch, but I've never, never experienced anything like that, because I never walked into the room giving anybody any inkling that was remotely possible.
RD: How did you prepare for the role in North Country?
Theron: I spent as much time as I could with the people of this small town -- to really understand their causes, on both ends. And there was an accent involved, which was a huge part for me, because it says so much about people.
RD: When you assume a role, your whole persona changes. Had I not known that was you in Monster, I never would have recognized you.
Theron: I grew up on a stage, as a ballerina. I played a swan, and when the swan died, I died. I never look at a role as me, Charlize, playing this person. This is a different person than I am, and I have to go and find that person. I have to go and find the truth.
RD: You were named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World by People magazine. Did you know that you were beautiful growing up?
Theron: I don't think I ever heard my mom say, "What a pretty girl." I heard her say, "What an incredible dancer, what an incredible performer." I have days when I do my hair and makeup, put a little black dress on, and I feel hot. And I have days when I put jeans on and have this roll sticking out. But I like the way I look, and don't spend much time in front of the mirror.
RD: You have your own production company. What are you working on?
Theron: I'm developing a show with John Walsh about a women's correctional facility. We're talking about murder and violence in these women.
RD: More girls are getting involved in physical violence these days.
Theron: It's not rap. It's not violence in movies. At the end of the day, the problem is what's not happening in the homes of these families. Mothers aren't raising their children to know what's wrong and right.
RD: You've played assassins and robbers. You don't have any ambivalence about glorifying those roles?
Theron: No, because I never would play a character who does horrible things and doesn't take responsibility for his or her actions. They're not finding some excuse, saying, "It was this movie I saw that made me kill seven johns." They're saying, "Look, my circumstances sucked, but I know that what I did was wrong." Hopefully, somebody can see Aileen Wuornos's life and go, "I need to stay out of these situations so I don't end up like that."
RD: You're an animal rights advocate, aren't you?
Theron: Yes. I've worked with sanctuaries in South Africa and foundations in Los Angeles, like Best Friends and the Amanda Foundation. Whenever I can help out with free adoptions or fostering, I do.
RD: Some people dismiss animal advocacy as frivolous, because there are people starving in the world.
Theron: I come from a country where starvation is huge, AIDS is huge, so I'm very aware of people suffering and I'm involved in those issues as well. I started the first anti-rape campaign in South Africa years ago, when nobody talked about rape. But one is not more important to me than another. My mother used to say, "You have to fight for things that don't have a voice."
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