Charlize Theron: ‘Pretty People Get Turned Away First’ for Movie Roles
Being an Oscar winner hasn’t made it easier for Charlize Theron to navigate the pressures of gender biases in the movie industry. The actress has taken a queen-sized hit at the pressures that come with being a female and turning 40 in Hollywood.
“We live in a society where women wilt and men age like fine wine. And, for a long time, women accepted it. We were waiting for society to change, but now we’re taking leadership,” said the “Mad Max: Fury Road” star in an interview with GQ magazine.
“It would be a lie to say there is less worry for women as they get older than there is for men… It feels (like) there’s this unrealistic standard of what a woman is supposed to look like when she’s over 40,” she added.
Theron has been busy promoting her new film “The Huntsman: Winter’s War,” a prequel to the story of “Snow White and The Huntsman.” To reprise her role as envious mirror-adoring Queen Ravenna, Theron insisted that her pay be equal to that of Chris Hemsworth — both were paid over $10 million.
The “Monster” actress has been campaigning for equal pay for women since the Sony hacks of 2014 revealed the large wage disparity between males and females in Hollywood, which Jennifer Lawrence has also spoken out against. But wage disparity is not the only concern for Theron.
“Jobs with real gravitas go to people that are physically right for them, and that’s the end of the story. How many roles are out there for the gorgeous f—ing gown-wearing, 8-foot model? When meaty roles come through, I’ve been in the room, and pretty people get turned away first,” she said.
Theron, along with Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody, who worked together on 2011’s “Young Adult,” are reteaming for a film about motherhood.
“The Huntsman: Winter’s War” also stars Emily Blunt, Jessica Chastain and Chris Hemsworth. The films hits theaters April 22.
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Film Review: 'The Huntsman: Winter's War'
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