Charlize Theron’s latest role isn’t the most likeable of characters. She embodies beautiful Mavis, the leading lady — rather, girl — of “Young Adult,” directed by Jason Reitman and penned by “Juno” writer Diablo Cody. Mavis returns back to her small tow in Minnesota, to try and win over her high school boyfriend Buddy, who is already married and has children in tow.
In her interview with HitFix, Theron describes Mavis’ character as “lonely” and “empty,” with an “addictive” streak. But what we as viewers are reacting not only to that challenging role: we’re turning a mirror on ourselves, she said.
“I saw great potential in the challenge of somebody who read ‘not-pleasant.’ i think it’s in the unpleasantries that we find a real person,” she said. “You only like it because you’re relating.”
As an actress, Theron went into what she called a “subtle zone,” though she saw maybe a little of her actual tendencies in the role, which is riddled with bad habits and unthinking meanness.
“I’m not a very sentimental person. I’m… cold, hard,” she joked. “I have a bit of a compulsive streak.”
It seems just like the kind of bully she may play in forthcoming “Snow White and the Hunstman,” co-starring Kristen Stewart. But Theron enjoys the major separations between those characters. “I would never want to go and repeat myself,” she said.
Watch our full video interview with the Academy Award-winning actress above.