15 Best Charlize Theron Movies

The role that earned her eternal respect. As serial killer Aileen Wuornos, Theron is unrecognizable but never inhuman. She transforms physically and mentally, showing a broken, tormented soul that stays with you. It won her the Oscar and proved she belongs at the absolute top.

Furiosa. One word, and everyone knows what you mean. Theron stole the show in this breathtaking post-apocalyptic rollercoaster: tough, silent, determined and emotionally unbeatable. Action acting at the highest level.

Based on a true story, Theron plays a miner who fights sexual harassment in the workplace. Her raw, honest performance earned her a second Oscar nomination. A powerful indictment and a personal drama in one.

One of her most daring roles: a woman determined to win back her high school sweetheart, whatever the consequences. Theron plays her without pity or embellishment, mercilessly honest and painfully on point. You sometimes hate her, but you feel her loneliness too.

Theron lets go of everything here: looks, glamour, ego. She plays a mother on the verge of burnout with such recognizable exhaustion, love and despair that it almost hurts. Realistic, moving and sometimes surprisingly funny.

Transformed into Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, Theron plays with control and nuance. Without becoming a caricature, she brings to life a woman finding her voice in a male-dominated world. The performance earned her another Oscar nomination.

Compare her to James Bond or John Wick, but with heels, punk music and ice-cold finesse. Theron performs her own stunts and gives her spy role raw intensity. Every kick, fall and punch feels real. A new classic in the action genre.

Ridley Scott's return to the Alien universe came with a lot of fanfare, but Theron held her own among the CGI and monstrous threats. Her cool, distant performance as Meredith Vickers fits the claustrophobic whole perfectly.

A gentle, human role in a film full of moral dilemmas. Theron plays a young woman who unintentionally plays a key role in the awakening of Tobey Maguire's character. Her vulnerability and strength make a deep impression.

In this stylish remake of the British classic, Theron plays a safecracker. Top-notch popcorn entertainment with car chases, plot twists and above all Theron as a cool professional among the men.

A young Theron, just starting out in Hollywood, stars opposite Keanu Reeves and Al Pacino. Her character slowly loses her grip on reality, and Theron portrays her mental breakdown heartbreakingly. An early glimpse of her dramatic potential.

In this sober, powerful film about veterans' trauma, Theron plays a detective struggling with machismo and corruption at work. Her restrained acting contrasts nicely with Tommy Lee Jones' anguished father. Not a blockbuster, but rock-solid acting.

Charlize as the evil queen? Rarely has a fairy-tale villain been so terrifying and seductive at once. She steals the show with her icy stare and gothic grandeur. The film has its weaknesses, but Theron is the reason to keep watching.

In Robert Redford's golf film, Will Smith is center stage, but Theron's elegant, confident presence gives the film a touch of class. Not a career highlight, but a charming supporting role.

Long before she won Oscars, Theron starred in this adventurous family film as a young woman with a special bond with a giant gorilla. A fairly safe film, but her warmth and natural presence make her instantly memorable.

In this survival thriller opposite Taron Egerton, Theron once again shows her mastery of action, this time as a climber pushed to her limits in the Australian wilderness. You feel her physical effort in every scene.