Breaking New Ground

Charlize says she doesn't choose roles based on a character's appearance. "I don't look at the physical [aspect]. The physical—a lot of times—comes just very organically from looking at the emotional."

Oprah had an AHA! moment when Charlize shared her thoughts on beauty: "I really believe that we look physically the way we do because of the emotional impact that we've made on our bodies during our life." When developing a character—both inside and out—Charlize says she keeps that philosophy in mind. "We start with the emotional stuff and then I try to go,' Well, these are the marks that this emotional life has left on her body.'"