Hollywood star Charlize Theron once revealed her bothersome ordeal with the media after they kept focusing on her looks in 2007’s In the Valley of Elah.

It is difficult to shove Hollywood star Charlize Theron out of the spotlight. Apart from being on the list of highest-paid actresses, the star’s glam and beauty are what dazzle the fans the most. And this seems to be a problem for her. Born in South Africa, she ran away from home at 16 to pursue her dream. With a $200 million net worth, it is clear that life played out well for the star. However, despite all the stardom, Theron has to deal with varied professional challenges.

Charlize Theron in Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)
Having starred in several blockbusters, Mad Max: Fury Road, Atomic Blonde, and Monster among others, the media particularly seem to focus on her looks and style rather than her acting flair. Likewise, after her 2007 film In the Valley of Elah hit theatres, Theron was irked by the peculiar reactions hurled at her plain look in the film, by the media outlets.

The media couldn’t look past Charlize Theron’s looks

Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road
The South African-American actress challenged the norms of her acting resume in 2003 after years of playing the archetype blonde mom or girlfriend in Hollywood, with Monster. Directed by Patty Jenkins, fans finally got to see Charlize Theron in a dark-themed role, where Theron played a serial killer. Her impeccable performance won her an Academy Award for Best Actress in 2004. Therefore setting the pace for her new career direction, taking projects with a greater message, the 48-year-old actress felt there was no turning back.

However, after In the Valley of Elah came out in 2007, Theron was quite shocked by the media’s perspective on her physical transformation. They targeted her look over her acting and the great plotline the Paul Haggis-led film had to offer. In a 2008 interview with The Guardian, Theron revealed,
“The way they focused on my appearance, I felt like it hurt that film and I was embarrassed because Paul had worked really hard and just because I had a ponytail that’s what they were talking about.” 
Theron’s primary concern was the over-emphasis on her physical appearance in movies. Of course, she was a super-glamorous Hollywood star, but her beauty simply did not earn her an Academy Award. Theron wanted to steer the conversation towards her acting. In the Valley of Elah collected $24 million at the global box office, per The Numbers. However, Theron felt it could have been better if the media hadn’t criticized her plain appearance.

Charlize Theron was meant for the role

Charlize Theron in Celebrity
In the Valley of Elah was based on a true story. The murder of Army veteran Richard Davis in 2003, who was stationed in Iraq and was killed days after returning home inspired the movie, per World Socialist Web Site. Moreover, The Guardian revealed that director Haggis had scripted the movie keeping in mind Theron would be the lead actress.

Apart from the spotlight on her beauty, Theron also seems to be bothered by her past being shoved into the limelight. The Guardian stated that her mother shot her drunk father to death when she was 15, which has left a deep scar in the actress’s life. Hence, Theron had to flee her home, away from the dark trauma, and fulfill her dreams.