Today, Charlize Theron turns 42. And while the South African model turned ballet dancer turned actress and producer has never looked better—her otherworldly stature, allover golden glow, and icy blue gaze only get better with age—she has stated in the past that her model-making genes have actually stood in the way of her acting career. “Jobs with real gravitas go to people that are physically right for them and that’s the end of the story. How many roles are out there for the gorgeous, f***ing, gown-wearing 8-foot model?” Theron once asked British GQ, recalling that a surprise reverse prejudice exists in Hollywood against attractive women when it comes to doling out heavier-hitting parts. “When meaty roles come through, I’ve been in the room and pretty people get turned away first.”
It wasn't the first time the actress has been outspoken about her looks both on-screen and off, and it certainly won't be the last. From the surprising pleasure of shaving her head to how she manages to guiltlessly skip a workout, here are seven times Theron delivered her honest take on beauty.
On Celebrating Every Age
“I think, like many women, I was judgmental toward women as they aged. Women, in our society, are compartmentalized so that we start to feel like we’re cut flowers, and after a while, we will wilt. I realize now that’s not the case—we can celebrate every age. That’s my encouragement to 20-year-olds who are terrified of getting older: Don’t have a nervous breakdown, and don’t hit the chardonnay too hard. Getting older is not that bad.”
On Self-Worth
“[Looks] were never emphasized in the house I was raised in. I don’t think my mom ever said, ‘Isn’t she a pretty girl?’ She’d say, ‘You should hear her sing. You should read this poem she wrote.’ The praise was always about what I’d done, not how I looked.”
On the Pleasure of Skipping a Workout
“I don’t have a rigid routine. I like spinning and yoga. But I’m at a place now where if I can forgo an hour at the gym to spend time with my son, trust me, I do it with pleasure.”
On Shaving Her Head
“You have not showered until you’ve showered hairless. That’s all I have to say.”
On Fighting Like a Girl
“I don’t want to look like a guy and I don’t want to fight like a guy. I want to fight like a woman. And I think a lot of times women get a lot of crap for dressing sexy. Like, 'If you want to be taken seriously, don’t dress like that.' And it’s like, 'No! You know what? I’m a woman, and I can wear this miniskirt and these six-inch heels.'”
On Embracing the Female Body
“It bothers me that in this society, it’s okay seeing a guy blow another’s head off, but a child seeing Janet Jackson’s boob at the Super Bowl is the worst thing that could happen. It’s not the end of the world! It’s just a breast!”
On Self-Acceptance
“What most people don’t realize is that no matter how others see you, you have to wake up to yourself every morning. And I really love myself. I’m comfortable in my skin. But there are some mornings when I look in the mirror and go, ‘Not so good.’ Then other times when I get my hair and makeup done, I stand at the mirror and go, ‘I like it. It’s hot.’ And I think all women do that.”