In an industry where competition is cut-throat and fame along with recognition are equivalent to currency, earning a name for yourself only becomes inherently more difficult. Normally though, one would expect famous celebrities and people who have already established themselves in the film industry to be exempt from this bitter reality. However, Charlize Theron doesn’t believe that to be true anymore.



South African and American actress and producer, Charlize Theron.
A recipient of a plethora of accolades, from an Oscar to a Golden Globe Award, Theron recently talked about the ups and downs of Hollywood, mostly the latter, and claimed that her low level of fame is what’s impeding her from becoming more successful.

Charlize Theron believes hard work is not going to help her gain popularity anymore

Charlize Theron has starred in some of the most renowned films like Mad Max: Fury Road and The Italian Job, and is also an esteemed producer. And yet, the actress feels that she was never able to hit the mark in Hollywood the way she would’ve wanted to.
Charlize Theron in Fury Road
In an interview, she recently had with Harper’s Bazaar, Theron briefly addressed certain things about her career that she thinks are harsh, but unalterable truths. “I feel like I’m at a place where it is what it is”, she said.

She stated how hard work unfortunately doesn’t equal more recognition anymore. “Working more isn’t, I think, going to change my level of fame. It just has always been a mediocre ride”, she observed.

The Old Guard star admitted that her having a name in the industry doesn’t matter as much as one would think, and how regardless of her accomplishments, it has become extremely tough to acquire financing for the films that she wants to produce.

Not having the “Kim Kardashian level” of fame seems to be a hindrance in Charlize Theron’s career 

Theron very straightforwardly talked about the fact that the fame she has is nothing compared to the stardom other celebrities like Kim Kardashian have. “I’ve never been one of those people that’s at a Kim Kardashian level. But I feel like it’s just always been this thing”, she pointed out.

She remarked how in the earlier days if one worked hard enough to make a name for themselves, they’d be able to earn that acknowledgment at some point. But that is simply not how things work in today’s time.
Charlize Theron believes she’s not as famous as Kim Kardashian
“I will say, back in the day, it used to be like, you want to have some of this fame so you can go make the shit that you really want to make. But now it’s like, I pitch shit all day long and people are like, ‘No, thanks.’ I’m like, ‘I guess that’s not cash in the bank anymore’”, Theron commented.

“And that’s nice. It’s nice that you’re making things on the merit of how good they are versus this idea of, like, ‘Oh, you’re this thing, and we want to be in business with that thing.’”

However, Theron also mentioned that regardless of how discouraging the circumstances may become, she won’t let such hurdles stop her from working. “There’s a natural fight in me to want to create environments that feel like the things that I wish I had 30 years ago when I started”, she concluded.