Charlize Theron's Transformations On Film Over The Years: From 'Bombshell' To 'Monster'

Actress Charlize Theron transformed into Megyn Kelly for her latest film “Bombshell,” but it is just one of many roles that required her to go through a physical transformation. The South African native has gone through different changes for films throughout her career. Below, we narrow down five of her most memorable transformations to date.

Monster (2003)

Theron received an Academy Award for playing convicted criminal Aileen Wuornos in the 2003 crime drama “Monster.” To prepare for the role, the actress had to gain 30 pounds, shave her eyebrows and wore prosthetic teeth. Theron was hardly recognizable on screen, playing a former sex worker who goes on a revenge spree killing the men who wronged her. The now 44-year-old actress gained critical acclaim for her role, with Roger Ebert calling it “one of the greatest performances in the history of cinema.”

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Theron’s role as Imperator Furiosa in the dystopian action film “Mad Max: Fury Road” was a physically demanding one. With her character, the actress had to shave her head and wear a mechanical arm in a leather outfit. On top of that, the role required her to drive a war rig. The role earned Theron praise for portraying a strong female heroine and bringing in some feminism into the franchise.

Atomic Blonde (2017)

Adapting the “The Coldest City” into a film was a passion project for Theron when she received the story five years prior to shooting it. Preparation for “Atomic Blonde” required Theron, who played a spy in the film, to work with eight personal trainers to learn various fighting styles. During the training, she cracked her teeth and bruised her rib. The actress managed to do most of her own stunts during filming while also wearing a wig.

Tully (2018)

To prep for the film “Tully,” Theron had to gain nearly 50 pounds to take on the role of a pregnant mother. The Academy Award winner had to gain that weight within three and a half months, requiring her to eat around the clock during production. After she finished filming, it took Theron a year and a half to lose all the weight gained for the role. The hard work paid off as her portrayal earned her a nomination for a Golden Globe for Best Actress.

Bombshell (2019)

The actress’ latest role in “Bombshell” took on a different transformation as she was essaying the role of journalist Megyn Kelly. Theron was required to put on some heavy makeup, eyelashes, eye contacts, and prosthetics to make her physically similar to the famed news correspondent. To date, her performance has earned her a Golden Globes nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama.

“Bombshell” is now playing in select theaters with a wide release scheduled for Friday.