Much
like her character in the new film "Young Adult," Charlize Theron is a
stalker. While the film's Mavis goes after an old boyfriend, Theron has
begun targeting interesting directors willing to see beyond her striking
beauty.
After having taken on challenging roles in the past only to have them
disappoint in the execution, the 36-year-old actress now looks to work
with visionaries at the helm of her films. She sought out Jason Reitman
at last year's Academy Awards, where the writer-director had been
nominated for his George Clooney-starring "Up in the Air," Theron's
favorite film of 2009.
"We were walking into the theater, and he and his wife were in front of
us. I thought, 'Oh, God, don't be that person,' but I was. I tapped him
on the shoulder and said, 'I just love your film,'" said Theron, whose
shyness often prevents her from reaching out to those she admires.
She adds, "The directors that I really suss out, the ones that really
inspire me, make the kind of films I feel could raise my bar.... I'm a
bit of a director groupie."
Theron's single-minded desire to work with the 34-year-old auteur led
her to the challenging "Young Adult," a tar-black comedy written by
Reitman's "Juno" collaborator Diablo Cody. That dedication helped Theron
understand the role of Mavis Gary — a thirtysomething ghostwriter
trapped in a state of arrested development who feels her life will get
back on track once she reconnects with her high school boyfriend —
despite the fact that he is happily married and a brand-new father.
"I knew that there was something great about her," said the actress of
the character, while sipping a Coke poolside at the Chateau Marmont. "I
didn't know how to go about doing it. I think that's always a good sign.
She wasn't an easy character to find. She definitely played hard to get."
Mavis is anything but a sympathetic character. She's a reality-TV-watching,
hair-pulling alcoholic with little self-awareness. She may be the
protagonist, but she's hardly an antihero because she lacks the tools
for any kind of change.
Theron empathized with Mavis, but she never liked her, and that was more
than enough to interest the former ballerina and model. "I think the
greatest characters are the unlikable ones, but mainly men get to play
them. Rarely do women. And they are so delicious. Like Nicole Kidman in
'To Die For,' I wanted that character to live next to me. Did I want her
to be my daughter? No. But those characters are so interesting."
Despite Mavis' complexity — or maybe because of it — Theron had a great
time on the set of the film. "Young Adult" was shot in a speedy 30 days
in upstate New York. To Theron, it was her favorite way to work: small
crew, long hours, no frills. The actress even bypassed the traditional
hair and makeup artists and put herself together — a process that worked
well for Mavis, who, when she's not desperately trying to seduce her ex
(Patrick Wilson), can be found trudging down the street in day-old
makeup and battered sweats.
"On the drive out to the suburbs, I would just sleep in my makeup. I
would literally get out of the car and walk onto the set and be ready to
shoot," said Theron. "And we would shoot all day long. I wouldn't go to
my trailer. It almost felt like a student film."
Theron's costar Patton Oswalt appreciated her drive. "It was such a
relief to work with someone who's a professional, who doesn't have the
belief that her talent comes from somewhere up high. No, her talent
comes from working really hard. That's all she believes in."
With the humor in "Young Adult" so dark viewers may not be sure whether
to laugh or cry, even Theron was ambivalent toward the finished product
upon her first screening, saying she felt like she'd been "punched in
the face over and over again." She has since watched it with audiences
during test screenings, which has been easier. "I didn't know what
people would respond to. Are they going to get it? It was nice to see
what they responded to, what they laughed at."
Ultimately, Theron trusted her director and his vision. The film ends in
a rather surprising manner, which is sure to have a divisive effect on
audiences. But it was an ending Theron believed in, and she signed on to
the film only after Reitman promised her he would not change it.
"The third act is my favorite part of any movie I've ever done," the
actress says. "It's the most deserving third act I've ever been a part
of: the rawness, the surprise, the curve."
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