Charlize Theron landed in Los Angeles in 1994 with an aim to find her spot in Hollywood. In the space of 10 months, racy shots of the actress dominated billboards across L.A. after she landed a prominent role in James Spader’s 2 Days in the Valley.
The sensual portrayal of Helga Svelgen, the girlfriend of hitman Lee Woods, helped the 19-year-old actress turn plenty of heads as well as land a role in That Thing You Do! (1996). Theron has never looked back since, having shown her acting prowess and versatility in countless titles.
The Oscar winner may have risen to stardom overnight in Hollywood, but things weren’t as seamless (and successful) when she tried to become a model.
Why Charlize Theron Believed She Couldn’t Compete With Models Like Kate Moss
Before Charlize Theron embarked on her acting journey, the South African-American actress tried to pursue a career in modeling.
Speaking to HuffPost about her teenage modeling career, Theron admitted that it took her little time to realize she was not going to make it in the industry.
“I was too tall, too big, too late for the supermodel look of the Eighties. Kate Moss and all the tiny, grungy girls had just become fashionable, and I didn’t fit the bill,” she revealed.
Her appearance didn’t help her break into the modeling world, but it was enough to catch the attention of an agent and eventually change her life for good.
As per IMDb, in 1995, Theron was struggling to cash a check her mother had sent from South Africa. Annoyed with the bank, she threw “a tantrum”.
This incident was witnessed by the agent, who was left impressed by her beauty. He accordingly handed over his business card to the then-model and dancer. A few months later, Theron was starring in 2 Days in the Valley.
Charlize Theron Wasn’t the First Choice for a Starring Role in 2 Days in the Valley
Fate had a hand in Theron becoming a Hollywood star in more ways than one. Apart from that agent, Daphne Deckers also inadvertently played a part in the young actor bagging the role of Helga.
According to IMDb, director John Herzfeld originally wrote the part for Deckers. However, The Tomorrow Never Dies star couldn’t give her nod due to other commitments and the part eventually went to Theron.
She made the most of the opportunity by delivering a commendable performance. Despite playing one of the antagonists, Theron managed to earn plenty of admiration from fans of the neo-noir crime black comedy.
Further, despite not being a model, Theron has worked hard over the years to remain in a model-like (for lack of a better word) shape, which has helped her stay at the top of her game for more than two decades.
In the aforementioned interview with HuffPost, she revealed that her lifestyle includes multiple hikes a week and a strict focus on her diet. Luck can only take you so far!
