Academy Award-winner Charlize Theron describes her experience working on Taylor Hackford’s The Devil’s Advocate as “exhausting.” The 1997 horror thriller starring Keanu Reeves and Al Pacino follows an ambitious lawyer who has been hired by a high-profile firm only to discover that he actually works for the devil.

Charlize Theron

The movie made a killing at the box office and grossed over $153 million against a production budget of $57 million. It also launched Theron’s career in the 90s, propelling her to stardom.

Charlize Theron Hated The Method Acting She Did In The Devil’s Advocate

In an interview via SmartLess podcast, The Huntsman star Charlize Theron shared the struggles of devoting oneself to method acting. This controversial technique was suggested by the film’s director, a huge fan of the practice. Method acting is simply remaining in character even if the cameras are not rolling. Theron admitted not being a fan of it:

“I realized on that film that that was definitely not a process that was gonna work for me. There was something so exhausting about it. My life was miserable. I wasn’t happy. And then, of course, you worry because then you’re like, “Well, if I don’t do that, then maybe I won’t be as good as the Marlon Brando’s and Monty Clift’s” and you read all these biographies...”

Charlize Theron in The Devil’s Advocate (1997)

The Mad Max actress shared that the process was too dark and rigorous for her, so she resorted to non-method practices:

“And then I did some work, non-method, and I was actually really happy with the work. I think for me, having the energy to be able to go a lot further in darker material is way more helpful than being exhausted. When I’m exhausted, I’m just tired. I almost don’t want to go in the dark room. So I made it a real discipline. I think dance really helped me with this. I work, I leave it behind.”

Theron emphasized the healthy boundaries between work and personal life. If she’s in front of the camera, she gives her all; but when filming is done for the day, she doesn’t bring work at home.

What Is Charlize Theron’s Acting Technique?

Speaking with Los Angeles Times, the Old Guard actress shared what she finds the best way for her to adapt to any role. Working on the documentary drama Bombshell, Theron explained the meticulous process she did to perfectly embody the character:

“The work that I had done with the dialect and just watching her mannerisms, how she pulls her face or how she holds herself, and the way she sounds, actually really informed me on how she was revealing herself emotionally.”

Charlize Theron
Theron confessed that this technique took her a long time to decipher the subject and imitate the movements. She also noted the length of time she devotes to work:
“I’m not method. My capacity is, you know, maybe two, three hours a day if that. And then I’m trying to keep the movie going and doing other things.”
Finally, the Fast & Furious star revealed that she has found her own method that is healthy and flexible:
“It was really hard to go to those deep, dark places because I was so tired. It was good for me to figure this out, and I am much better now.”