In one of the most exciting casting moves in Hollywood, Oscar winner Charlize Theron joined the critically acclaimed sitcom Arrested Development. It is the movie Monster that brought her an Academy Award in 2004 for the best actress in a leading role. This move of Theron left the audience wondering, why would a Hollywood A-lister take a comedy role in a sitcom on television?
The actress revealed that this is a calculated decision she has taken. While she worked on Arrested Development, she also worked in a sci-fi movie titled Æeon Flux in 2005. The action-filled sci-fi movie did not perform well at the box office, which led Theron to make a concise decision to do something different to show her talent. She also said that the failure of her movie and her dark background could end her career, which she altered by taking the role in the sitcom.
The journey from Oscars to sitcom
Theoron won the Oscar for the best actress for her chilling portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the movie Monster. From there she appeared in the second season of Arrested Development as Rita Leeds where she portrayed the role of the charming love interest of Michael Bluth. The child-like intellect of the character led to the most memorable yet absurd moments as the episodes unfolded.
But what was the reason behind her phenomenal transition from a serious movie to comedy? Well, she wanted to shake off her dark and gloomy role in Monster and represent a more light-hearted one. Arrested Development allowed her to embrace her comic side.
A calculated career move for Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron has described the transition as a strategic move. While the Oscar has opened doors to many opportunities, it can categorize actors into specific roles from the same category. While many actors feel the overwhelming need to stick to it, many people make a strategic move. Theron is also one of those actors who demonstrated her versatility by taking the role in Arrested Development. That move has helped her later to receive more dynamic roles from Mad Max: Fury Road to The Old Guard, Snow White and The Huntsman, Head in the Clouds, Long Shot, etc.
Though in an interview with Hollywood Reporter, she has expressed how obsessed she was with her comic role in the sitcom. She was a huge fan of the show and described it as one of the smartest things on television. Though the five-season sitcom did not work well to reach the audience, hence losing her mainstream attention. But fans have praised her performance and claimed it as one of the most talked-about guest appearances in television.
Although Theron’s sitcom did not make a great impression, her career move proved to be strategic. She stepped into a comic role in TV right after a dramatic success that got her an Oscar. This shows the diversity and fearlessness as an actor, which made a lasting impression for her later roles in various other movies.
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