Charlize Theron calls out Hollywood for not taking 'risk' on female hero action films
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Actress Charlize Theron criticized the film industry for hesitating to support female-led action films in a recent interview with The New York Times.

Theron and fellow actress Uma Thurman discussed the challenges women encounter in the genre as they promote their new Netflix superhero sequel, “The Old Guard 2.”

Theron said that securing the lead roles in action films is more challenging for women because Hollywood viewed these films as more of a risk.

“Yeah, it’s harder,” Theron stated. “That’s known. Action films with female leads don’t get green-lit as much as the ones with male leads. I think the thing that always frustrates me is the fact that guys will get a free ride.”

The Oscar-winning actress suggested there was a double standard in Hollywood.

Theron claimed that when male actors star in films that flop at the box office, they are often given a pass, while women are rarely given the same leeway.


Charlize Theron at the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project 2025 Block Party.
Charlize Theron attended the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project 2025 Block Party in Universal City, Calif. on June 28, 2025. Getty Images

Charlize Theron as Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road, carrying a rifle.
Theron played Furiosa in the 2015 film “Mad Max: Fury Road.” Jasin Boland

“When women do this and the movie maybe doesn’t hit fully, they don’t necessarily get a chance again,” she said. “With this, we were very aware that eyes were on us. It’s not a risk that studios want to take, but they’ll take it many times on the same guy who might have a string of action movies that did not do so well.”

Both she and Thurman have starred in successful female-led action films. Thurman famously played an assassin in “Kill Bill,” while Theron has taken on iconic roles in films like “Mad Max: Fury Road” and the “Fast & Furious” franchise.

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