Charlize Theron's 'Atomic Blonde' premieres in Berlin
Jochen Kürten kbm
July 17, 2017
She's blond, sexy and throws a good punch. Charlize Theron is out to bring Cold War double agents to justice in "Atomic Blonde." The film celebrates its European premiere in the city it was filmed in: Berlin.
Image: Focus Features LLC./Jonathan Prime
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Charlize Theron as the 'Atomic Blonde'
Charlize Theron plays a cool "Atomic Blonde" during the Cold War - a compelling performance with wit and fierceness. The South African boasts leading roles in numerous action films. Here's a look at her exciting career.
Image: Focus Features LLC./Jonathan Prime
Agent action in 1989
In her latest film, "Atomic Blonde," South African actress Charlize Theron plays a double agent in the last days of the Cold War, just before the fall of the Berlin Wall. James McAvoy plays her British agent side-kick, decked out here as a punk. Her portrayal as an "Atomic Blonde" strengthens her reputation as an actress with sex appeal and action potential.
Image: Focus Features LLC./Jonathan Prime
Shoulder to shoulder with Johnny Depp
Following her move from South Africa to the United States in the mid-1990s, Theron first played in supporting roles in Hollywood films. Her role in "The Astronaut's Wife" - playing the wife - garnered her a great deal of attention. This image shows her in the 1999 film alongside Johnny Depp, who still boasted some of his youthful charm.
Image: imago/United Archives
Radiantly beautiful
Theron's beauty and radiance were evident from a very young age, when she was also a model and dancer. And her performance in historical films, such as here in the 1999 film version of John Irving's novel "The Cider House Rules," has been equally convincing.
Image: imago/ZUMA Press
Established in Hollywood
At the turn of the millennium, Theron was playing in one film after another. She was a dependable actress in films boasting wide-sweeping settings and a variety of stars. This image shows her in the 2000 film "The Legend of Bagger Vance" alongside Will Smith and Matt Damon - as the fiancée of ex-golfer Rannulph Junuh.
Image: Dream Works/D. James
Working with Woody Allen
Charlize Theron also caught the attention of film genius Woody Allen, who signed her on to play in his 2001 film "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion." The smallish director and actor placed his bets on a few laughs from the audience in scenes showing him alongside the tall Theron.
Image: Dreamworks/J. Clifford
A transformative actress
Theron increasingly showed just how diversified she was as an actress able to portray a wide variety of characters. As Stella, an expert in cracking open safes, she grilled Mark Wahlberg (left) and Jason Statham (right) in the 2003 film "The Italian Job."
Image: imago/United Archives
Oscar for 'Monster'
In the 2003 film "Monster" by director Patty Jenkins, which is based on a true story, Charlize Theron plays a serial killer. She was barely recognizable in the role. She garnered a much-deserved Oscar for best leading actress for her spunky performance.
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Second Oscar nomination
Even if, four years later, she received "only" an Oscar nomination, she still convincingly played a woman abused by her husband in "North Country." Theron had meanwhile become one of the highest paid and respected actresses in Hollywood.
Image: imago/United Archives
In the 'Alien' saga
A Hollywood fixture, Theron had meanwhile taken on US citizenship. In blockbusters, too, she has given radiant performances - such as here in 2012's "Prometheus," a sequel to the "Alien" saga. She played a spaceship team member alongside Idris Elba.
Image: imago/Cinema Publishers Collection
Action heroine
It was Charlize Theron who, two years ago in the Mad Max film "Fury Road," helped to launch the new female heroine role in Hollywood action films. As a hard, cold-blooded "Imperator Furiosa," she left most of the men behind in the dust. It was solely film partner Tom Hardy who could keep up with her in the film.
Image: imago/Cinema Publishers Collection
Charlize Theron rages on in Berlin
It's an attitude the South African seems to maintain in her latest film, "Atomic Blonde." She and director David Leitch may have placed their bets on humor and irony, but when push comes to shove, her male counterparts get the short end of the stick.
Image: Focus Features LLC./Jonathan Prime
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Berlin is crawling with Hollywood celebrities for the European premiere of "Atomic Blonde" on Monday evening. The South African actress Charlize Theron, a well-established name among Hollywood's elite, is already familiar with the German capital. In April, she presented her film "Fast & Furious 8" there - and is now back for "Atomic Blonde."
Charlize Theron is a Berlin pro
"I love Berlin," the actress told the press and fans during her spring visit to the city in which she has made a number of films.
"Atomic Blonde" was shot last year at multiple locations in central Berlin, including Breitscheidplatz and at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.
In the spy thriller set in 1989 just before the fall of the Berlin Wall, Theron plays Lorraine Broughton, a hard-nosed agent who wears a platinum wig. She is tasked with collecting highly sensitive information for the British secret service, the MI-6, but her mission turns into a life-threatening game of cat and mouse due to the political turmoil of the time.
Broughton is assigned with blowing the covers of double agents. Her liaison officer in Berlin is David Percival (James McAvoy), and the two inevitably develop a close relationship over the course of the film - and not only in terms of spy matters.
Based on a comic
Directed by David Leitch, "Atomic Blonde" is based on a graphic novel by Anthony Johnston. Take a quick look at the online trailer and it's clear that the flick, which opens on July 28 in the US, will draw action fans in droves.
Theron plays the role of a brutally cool agent whose combat skills are on par with her sex appeal. As a female action lead, she joins the esteemed company of Angelina Jolie ("Lara Croft"), Scarlett Johannson ("Lucy," "Ghost in the Shell") and Gal Gadot ("Wonder Woman").
These female stars don't just impress with their quick moves but also with their looks - which gets both men and women into the cinemas.
"Atomic Blonde" is a clever mix of "James Bond," "Mission Impossible" and "The Bourne Identity." And when the platinum-haired Theron teams up with a brunette in Berlin and gets involved in sizzling sex scenes, a dash of "Basic Instinct" is also thrown in. Hollywood knows the ingredients behind a box office hit.
Theron shows off some pretty slick movesImage: Focus Features LLC./Jonathan Prime
Theron establishes herself as an action star
While "Atomic Blonde" promises to have the recipe for success, Theron has secured her position as a top action star, the film the latest in a slew of lead roles in fast-paced action movies like "Fast & Furious 8" and "Mad Max: Fury Road."
It also makes Berlin all the more attractive for Hollywood producers, with Cold War Berlin also serving as a backdrop in several James Bond films, and more recently in Steven Spielberg's "Bridge of Spies."
Bit part for Til Schweiger
In Germany, "Atomic Blonde" has a particularly good chance of a strong showing at the box office. The film, which opens here in theaters on August 24, features German stars like Barbara Sukowa and Til Schweiger in smaller roles.
"Atomic Blonde" celebrated its international premiere at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, in March and will also be shows at the Locarno Film Festival in August.
