Charlize Theron has been one of the most accomplished and sought-after actors in Hollywood. Her Oscar win for her performance in Patty Jenkins’ 2003 film, Monster has gained her further prominence. Although she is known as an action star, Theron has appeared in several other movies of different genres.
Of course, Theron is a committed actor but in some movies, she would go extreme for the roles she would play. However, some roles did not work despite her extreme efforts. One such role includes the 2005 sci-fi action film, Aeon Flux. Later, the actor also pushed herself to the edge of physical transformation in Tully.
Charlize Theron Went Extreme in Tully Gaining 50 Pounds
In Tully, Charlize Theron played Marlo, a mother of three children, including a newborn. The Jason Reitman-directed 2018 comedy-drama, however, took a toll on her life as she had to undergo extreme challenges gaining 50 pounds. Also, a 45-pound belly was added to her character. That was not all, the actor also had to face several behind the scene issues, from going through a mentally difficult phase to fighting through a back injury.
Her role in Tully was the polar opposite of her previous film, Atomic Blonde. The actor was in the best shape after the movie, “I just had finished ‘Atomic Blonde’ and was in the best shape,” she said. “I couldn’t wait to rock a bikini that summer … until Jason called,” she added.
Playing the character also troubled her emotional state, the actor further revealed that her mood was changing following the weight gain. “I just started feeling like this character, started dealing with depression for the first time in my life,” Theron told Mercury News. “I don’t think this would have connected with me in the way that it did if I didn’t have children,” she added.
“I can’t imagine making this movie in my 30s before I had kids … and all of that came into play. And it just felt like an honest and real screenplay that came from someone who really understood what this experience was. That’s always a beautiful thing, when you get to read something that feels that raw and real, that it came from somebody who lived this.”
The Mad Max: Fury Road actor has reserved quite an experience in her life after Tully. However, despite her efforts, the movie just earned $15 million off a $13 million budget. However, the critical response to the movie is pretty welcoming.
The Script of Tully Was Personal to Charlize Theron
Of course, Theron would undergo such extremities only after having an impact of the script on her personal life. The actor admitted that “A lot of it felt very personal” and she could totally relate to the character being the mother of two adopted children. “That struggle really connected with me,” Theron said.
“And obviously my little one was a baby when I read this and so I just had gone through with my second and I just had gotten out of that dark tunnel — where you think there won’t ever be light again — where you get two hours (of sleep).”
However, she also admitted that she read the script as a no-brainer.
“I read the script and it was no-brainer. I was myself coming out of that dark tunnel. My second baby was around six months old. I was coming out of waking up every two hours, so this was very familiar to me,” Theron said.
Speaking of the diverse roles she had played the Tully actor further said that she has always tried to play the human truth of the character.
“I think, in general, you’re just ultimately trying to play the truth of that human. And so whatever circumstances that human finds themself in is rather secondary. As an actor you’re always chasing the truth of that person. And then you kind of listen to the rules of the world that they’re living in and the things that are influencing that.”
For what’s it worth, the movie was a critical success and her efforts have somehow preserved in her performance. Further, the actor revealed that it took more than a year for the actor to lose the weight she gained from the movie and said that it was brutal.
Source: The Things.
