Mad Max: Fury Road star Charlize Theron expressed her opinion regarding female characters in science fiction films. The South African-born actress has played numerous badass women roles, though she feels that there is still misrepresentation.
In her own experience, there is a need to change the narrative when it comes to portraying female characters in sci-fi movies for them to be compelling. Theron has been exploring the said genre for many years now, and she believes there is still room for improvement.
Charlize Theron Reacts To Hollywood’s Portrayal Of Women In Sci-Fi Movies
In an interview on Live! With Kelly and Michael, Snow White & the Huntsman star Charlize Theron said that she’s open to trying out new things that the science fiction genre has to offer (via The Guardian):
“I’ve always wanted to explore the genre a little bit more, especially because I think it’s such a misconception that women don’t like the genre, or that they don’t want to go and see these movies.”
Theron further explained what bothers her in terms of the way female characters are represented in sci-fi films. She firmly noted that women can also play in the field and survive the challenges:
“I just feel like women have been so misrepresented in these films – why do we have to go and see the genre every single time with the girl in the back of the frame in a push-up bra? Why isn’t there a girl that’s standing on the same playing field with the guys… We don’t want to be guys, but in a post-apocalyptic world, we will survive.”
One of Theron’s most notable sci-fi roles was Imperator Furiosa in George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road. The Oscar-winning star credited the post-apocalyptic movie for changing her career (via IGN):
“Mad Max: Fury Road really changed the trajectory for me. There are a lot of possibilities here. You just have to find the right people who are willing to explore these stories with women. I became actively involved and became a producer.”
She expressed her satisfaction with how Furiosa and the other female characters were portrayed on the screen:
“There’s something really, really nice about playing this woman who is a woman, first of all, but is a rogue warrior just like Max, and can fight just as well as Max with one arm. There’s a lot of women in this movie, like three different generations of women in this story, and I think they’re represented really well. And they kick butt.”
Mad Max: Fury Road was a raging box-office success, nominated for ten categories where it won six awards, including Best Film Editing, Best Production Design, and Best Costume Design.
Charlize Theron’s First Sci-Fi Movie Project Was A Huge Flop
Charlize Theron’s first stint at sci-fi movies was far from the prestige of Mad Max: Fury Road. She led the Æon Flux franchise which saw her transform into a highly skilled assassin. The film was considered a flop and Theron’s lowest-rated film ever.
The most surprising fact about this was that the actress already knew it was going to bomb. She told The Hollywood Reporter:
“This is going to sound so “poor me,” but I do feel like sometimes, as women, we get one shot, and I knew that Aeon Flux was going to be a fucking flop. I knew it from the beginning.”
The Fast & Furious actress said she was not a producer and did not have much say in the process, but she only pushed through and wished for the day to wrap up filming. Although her first-ever sci-fi movie failed, Theron considered it a lesson and a stepping stone.
Mad Max: Fury Road is available to stream on Netflix.
Sources: The Guardian, IGN, THR
