Sensationalism and controversy are often the lifeblood of this industry. Therefore, it takes courage to discuss a delicate and challenging subject like s*xual harassment, especially for an actress. Charlize Theron is not one to shy away from challenging roles or narratives that demand attention. Making the 2019 drama flick Bombshell, which dealt with s*xual harassment at Fox News, was a task that she knew would not be simple. After all, that plotline is a tightrope in terms of storytelling.
With its female protagonists leading the cast, Bombshell has a female perspective throughout the narrative. The film provided insight into the sinister underbelly of s*xual misconduct in the workplace, but having a male director, Jay Roach, sparked criticism among moviegoers and critics alike.
During an interview, Theron talked about the topic and defended Roach, who is credited with politically charged movies like Game Change and Recount.
Charlize Theron’s Unflinching Support for her Bombshell Director
The debate over who gets to tell stories about women has gained a lot of traction in the last few years. In an interview with Deadline, Bombshell actress and co-producer Charlize Theron touched on the topic of the $61.4 million film. She was questioned about the film, which was written and directed by men. She asserted that she had heard some critics’ concerns regarding a male director helming a film that is “quintessentially a woman’s story”. She recalled:
“Everybody was like, ‘It’s quintessentially a woman’s story, why would you make it with a guy?’ It’s hard to explain to people how Jason feels about that topic.”
For Theron, it validated something she wished people would remember: men have an equal stake in creating a secure environment for women and girls. She added:
“We need to get rid of the few bad apples, but in general, I feel like men don’t want this for their daughters, or for their wives. There’s an empathy there.”
She continued by saying that she committed to playing Kelly after reading the script and being impressed enough to join the project. Her discussions with Jay Roach, who was on board, were what ultimately convinced her to take on the role:
“That was the first moment where, because of what he was saying about how he saw the project, it excited me as an actor. I knew, for Jay I would go there. I felt safe with him. I felt like I got excited about making this movie.”
By entrusting Roach with the task of bringing s*xual harassment to the big screen, the actress showed trust in his ability to handle the sensitive subject with nuance and sensitivity.
Charlize Theron Discussed Working With Women vs. Men
Charlize Theron emphasizes one significant benefit while singing the praises of having a predominantly female cast. The 48-year-old actor informed PEOPLE in 2019:
“I will tell you the first thing that happens when you work with women that you do not get with men—you never wait for them. I have never waited for a woman on a set once.”
Working on projects with strong female leads is something she said she enjoys doing. In Bombshell, Theron played news anchor Megyn Kelly, while co-star Margot Robbie assumed the role of a fictional junior staff member. The other female cast members were Kate McKinnon, Allison Janney, and Connie Britton. Theron added:
“We have this real need to want to work with other women. Yet we get so few opportunities.”
Although Bombshell’s box office performance was viewed as disappointing, the majority of reviews were positive. While receiving critical acclaim for its acting and winning the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, it was criticized for its screenplay and several plot and character portrayal errors.
Stream Bombshell on DIRECTV.
