Charlize Theron played the role of Stella Bridger, a talented driver who assists a group of robbers in executing a risky heist, in the 2003 remake of The Italian Job. Alongside Mark Wahlberg and Jason Statham, the action-packed movie earned $176 million. Theron’s driving abilities were showcased in various scenes, including one where she and Wahlberg raced through a busy mall in a Mini Cooper.
In one of her media interviews, Charlize Theron expressed feeling insulted by the intensive preparation process for her role in The Italian Job. During an interview with Terri Schwartz, Theron discussed the rigorous training she underwent to perform driving scenes in the movie. Being the only female member of the cast that included actors like Mark Wahlberg, Jason Statham, Edward Norton, Seth Green and Donald Sutherland, Theron initially received six weeks more car training than any of the male actors, which she found insulting.
The poster for The Italian Job movie features Charlize Theron, who was the only woman in a group of men. She recalled feeling insulted when she received the pre-production schedule and saw that six weeks more car training was scheduled for her than any of the male actors. Despite this, Theron used it as motivation to outperform her male co-stars. During the conversation, Theron also spoke about the unfairness of the industry, highlighting her pride in the stunt work she did in The Italian Job. She specifically mentioned the challenging scene where she and Mark Wahlberg drove through the mall, but credited her success to hard work and determination.
Charlize Theron, known for her role in The Italian Job, shared that her personal struggles led her to realize the unequal treatment of female actors in the action genre. She explained that performing her own stunts was a significant moment for her and made her feel empowered by proving that women are capable of doing such things. Theron believes that women are often unfairly judged or treated when it comes to action roles.
Undoubtedly, Theron’s driving abilities in The Italian Job were impressive and contributed to making her character unforgettable in the movie. Additionally, her portrayal in the film helped establish her as an action star. As a result, Theron has appeared in numerous action films, including Mad Max: Fury Road and Atomic Blonde, since the release of The Italian Job.
