Charlize Theron Movie Talk
Kevin Maynard

As James Spader's leggy, cat-fighting hit-lady accomplice, actress Charlize Theron slithers through the new thriller "2 days in the Valley" and its cool San Fernando backdrop. Next week, she does a great parody of a Doris Day-type debutante in "That Thing You Do!," Tom Hanks' saccharine pop saga. But whether she's playing goody-two-shoes or bad to the bone, this 21-year-old South African native has the star power to tackle Tinseltown. Here she holds forth on violence, drive-ins, drum-plyaing and baring it all.

So how does it feel to be the flavor of the month?

It's exciting and nerve-racking, because it all happened so fast. I'm just trying to enjoy it right now.

Was that your actual body in "2 days in the Valley"?

Let me tell you something darlin': If you're making your film debut, you ain't gonna get a body double. You're doing it all yourself. I was aware of the nudity the first time I read the script, and it never bothered me. It didn't feel like, "Hey cool, let's just put some sex in the script!" For me, the nude scene really shows the manipulative relationship between my character, Helga, and Lee (James Spader). You see how they turn each other on and push each other's buttons. It's a big game. They wouldn't do it for anybody else other than themselves.

What attracted you to playing Helga?

She isn't your typical romantic. She'd jump out of a plane for Lee. She's hot for danger. That's what it's all about for them: the extremes they'd go for one another.

How was it filming the big brawl scene between you and Teri Hatcher of TV's "Lois and Clark"?

I loved shooting that, and believe it or not, we did no improvising there. It's a realistic fight between two women -- they're not just pulling hair, they're really going at it.

In real life do you, like Helga, have a violent streak?

Well, if you push me to a point, I'll take care of myself. [Laughs.] When I read this script for the first time, I was like, I have a brawl with Teri Hatcher, and I get to bleed all over everything. Cool!

Would you do nude scenes again?

If it's justified in the script. If I can trust the director. It's hard for me to watch myself. I was hiding at the Toronto Film Festival screening, but it's getting a little easier.

What's your character like in "That Thing You Do"?

I play Tina, the drummer's girlfriend. She represents the 2 percent of the 1960s that hated rock and roll. This girl would never throw her underwear at the Beatles. She likes violins and pianos. She's a good girl with very basic needs. Luckily, she finds the dentist of her dreams.

And how was Mr. Hanks?

He's fabulous. I grew up on Tom's films, and I loved them. On the set, he's so secure in his surroundings, and so human. I put him on a pedestal.

Tell me about growing up in South Africa?

I grew up five years behind everybody else in terms of pop culture. But my mother used to sneak me in a blanket to the drive-in to see R-rated movies. When I was 10, I saw "The Shining." When I was 13, she gave me the birds-and-the-bees talk, and then we watched "Fatal Attraction." She was so cool. Movies were a way for my mom to explain the mysteries of life to me, so I lived my life vicariously through film.

Is there anybody you'd die to work with?

Mikhail Baryshnikov! There's a man! I hope he reads this. Can you punch him my phone number?

You mean you're available?

Oh, sweetie, I'm as single as they come.

You're only 21 -- do you feel like you're on lucky gal?

I love that at my age I'm not just paying my dues and working at McDonald's. I'm living my dreams.