In case you didn’t know, Charlize Theron turned down a role in Wonder Woman. The Oscar-winning actress was offered the role of Diana Prince’s mother Hippolyta in the 2017 blockbuster, a role that eventually went to Connie Nielsen.
However, Theron has now revealed that she initially thought she was being offered the title role, before realising how deeply Hollywood’s female age problem went (despite being only nine years older than Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot).
“This is a great of example of how Hollywood slaps you in the face when you start ageing,” Theron said on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.
“So somebody had said to me, ‘Oh, there’s action on this thing, Wonder Woman – we just want to make you aware of it.’ And I was like, ‘I’m just not familiar with it…I mean, what does Wonder Woman do?’
“And this person said, ‘No, it’s for Wonder Woman’s mom.’ It’s fine, but it was the defining moment when I crossed over, and I wasn’t fully aware of it.”
Wonder Woman was directed by Patty Jenkins, who previously worked with Theron on Monster – the movie that earned the actress the Best Actress Oscar.
Speaking back in 2017 of turning down the movie, the star admitted on The Howard Stern Show: “No, I’m not in Wonder Woman. [Patty and I are] friends. I think the world of her. We have a mutual respect for each other.
“She did come to me, and at the time I was either working on something or I don’t know. There was a reason I couldn’t do it.”
Wonder Woman is due to return in the sequel Wonder Woman 1984, though fans have been left somewhat disappointed after its release was pushed-back from 2019 until 2020. Wonder Woman 1984 will be released on June 5, 2020.