'I told my doctor I was dying': Charlize Theron, 41, talks 'massive depression' and 'getting sick' after gaining weight for movie Tully

By Dailymail.com Reporter

Published: 12:23 EDT, 11 July 2017 | Updated: 13:27 EDT, 11 July 2017

She's considered one of the most beautiful women in the world. 

But Charlize Theron, 41, is not above drastically changing her appearance for a role. 

The actress talked to Variety about gaining weight for her latest film Tully and how hard it was this time around compared to when she was younger.

Getting older: Charlize Theron, 41, opened up in an interview with Variety about gaining weight for her latest film Tully and how hard it was this time around

Getting older: Charlize Theron, 41, opened up in an interview with Variety about gaining weight for her latest film Tully and how hard it was this time around

Dangerous job: Charlize also reveals in the interview that while making Atomic Blonde, she got injured on set, including twisting her knee, bruising her ribs and undergoing extensive dental surgery

Dangerous job: Charlize also reveals in the interview that while making Atomic Blonde, she got injured on set, including twisting her knee, bruising her ribs and undergoing extensive dental surgery

The South African beauty, who dazzles in black on the cover, famously gained weight and changed her appearance for her Academy Award winning role in Monster.

At the time Monster was filmed in 2002, Charlize was 15 years younger and in her twenties, so gaining and losing the weight wasn't as much of a sacrifice or hardship on her body.

She revealed her foray into body modification this time around 'was brutal in every sense.'

Weight gain! The actress famously transformed herself, including gaining weight for her role in Monster, which landed her an Academy Award in 2003, and again in 2017's Tully
Weight gain! The actress famously transformed herself, including gaining weight for her role in Monster, which landed her an Academy Award in 2003, and again in 2017's Tully

Weight gain! The actress famously transformed herself, including gaining weight for her role in Monster (left), which landed her an Academy Award in 2003, and again in 2017's Tully (right)

At 41, Charlize gained weight to play a mother of three young kids in the Jason Reitman helmed film Tully. 

She explained that when she completed Atomic Blonde, she was looking for a small film and a role where she could 'lose herself.'

The blonde beauty reunited with the Young Adult director and decided to completely immerse herself in the role, including gaining weight again.

She admits, it was harder at a more mature age.

'It was brutal in every sense,' she explained. 'This time around, I really felt it in my health.  

Directed by David Leitch, Atomic Blonde is an action-packed Cold War thriller starring Charlize as a ruthless and talented British spy on a mission in Berlin

Directed by David Leitch, Atomic Blonde is an action-packed Cold War thriller starring Charlize as a ruthless and talented British spy on a mission in Berlin

'The sugar put me in a massive depression. I was sick. I couldn't lose the weight. I called my doctor and I said, 'I think I'm dying!' And he's like, 'No, you're 41. Calm down,' she explained. 

But gaining weight hasn't been the only hardship in her career. 

While making Atomic Blonde, which she has been promoting this summer, she revealed she got injured on set, including twisting her knee, bruising her ribs and undergoing extensive dental surgery. 

Changing roles: In the interview, she explained that when she completed Atomic Blonde, she was looking for a small film and a role where she would 'lose herself'

Changing roles: In the interview, she explained that when she completed Atomic Blonde, she was looking for a small film and a role where she would 'lose herself'

The latter was due to clenching down hard on her jaw while getting in crazy shape to 'throw burly men over her shoulders.'

She explained: 'It happened the first month of training. I had severe tooth pain, which I never had in my entire life.' 

'It was tough. You want to be in your best fighting shape, and it's hard. I had the removal and I had to put a donor bone in there to heal until I came back, and then I had another surgery to put a metal screw in there,' she explained. 

The actress has been making the rounds promoting Atomic Blonde, which is due out  July 18

After winning her Oscar for Monster, which was helmed by Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins, the actress explained she had a hard time navigating what to do next.

'As far as work goes, it opens up a lot of doors,' Theron says. 'But also, it's so overwhelming to have everybody clamoring and saying, 'This is what you should do.' There's so much noise. I felt a little unstable afterwards.'

She says she's proud of what Patty Jenkins has accomplished with Wonder Woman and hopes it lasts. 

'We've had moments like this, where women really showcase themselves and kind of break glass ceilings. And then we don't sustain it. Or there's one movie that doesn't do well, and all of a sudden, no one wants to make a female-driven film.'

She has hope for Wonder Woman:  'I am always hoping that this is the movie that's going to change it and keep it for us.'

Charlize has been making the rounds, promoting her new film Atomic Blonde.

Directed by David Leitch, it's an action-packed Cold War thriller starring Charlize as a ruthless and talented British spy on a mission in Berlin.

With a cast also featuring Sofia Boutella, John Goodman and James McAvoy, Atomic Blonde will be out in American movie theaters July 18.

 

 

 

 

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