Charlize Theron has established a successful Hollywood career with her continuous blockbuster hits that only amplified her acting performances. Gaining the leading actress tag in the 1990s with films like The Devil’s Advocate and The Cider House Rules, she even worked on dramatic and action roles that eventually helped her in expanding her portfolio.

Charlize Theron

However, this terrific career came after years of struggle. Back in the 90s, when she became a well-versed name in the industry, she decided to keep her struggling era out of her acting career. It remained the same until Woody Allen came to the scene.

Woody Allen Convinced Charlize Theron to Work in Celebrity

American filmmaker, Woody Allen

Charlize Theron has often brought up her rocky path to get to where she is today. Her journey kicked off as a model before she eventually got her chance to follow acting. Back in 1998, the actress worked with an ensemble cast including Leonardo DiCaprio and Winona Ryder in the Woody Allen-directed film, Celebrity.

Initially, the actress was uninterested in working on the project since she reportedly vowed to never appear as a model on-screen. It could have been because of the difficult time she faced while she pursued her modeling career.

However, she portrayed the supermodel role in the comedy-drama movie helmed by Allen. As to why it happened, the director himself wrote her a letter asking her to reconsider her decision and accept the role. It eventually happened with the actress appearing in the film.

Charlize Theron’s Transition from Model to Actor

Charlize Theron

She officially began her modeling career at 16 with a one-year contract in Salerno. However, she had hope that she would become a good dancer which is why she settled in New York City to pursue what she liked by learning ballet at Joffrey School. In a 2008 interview with The New York Times, the actress recalled feeling almost hopeless about her career.

“I went to New York for three days to model, and then I spent a winter in New York in a friend’s windowless basement apartment. I was broke, I was taking class at the Joffrey Ballet, and my knees gave out.”

Given the problems she was immersed in, her mother motivated her to take another step toward her dreams.

“I realized I couldn’t dance anymore, and I went into a major depression. My mom came over from South Africa and said, ‘Either you figure out what to do next or you come home, because you can sulk in South Africa.’”

Her mother then purchased her a one-way ticket to Los Angeles along with a cheque to help her sustain herself for a few months. Around the same time, when she was financially struggling, she eventually landed a talent agent in John Crosby, which became her first step to the success she owns today.