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For being named United Nations Messenger of Peace. In her role she will promote efforts to fight violence against women around the world.

Actress Charlize Theron to become UN peace envoy (AFP via Yahoo)
photo: Albert L. Ortega/ PR Photos

I couldn't be more psyched to see her new film The Burning Plain that is now in competition at the Venice Film Festival which stars Theron and Kim Basinger. She produced the film and in a press conference stuck up for the pathetic lack of opportunities for actresses as the age.

Theron recommended Basinger for The Burning Plain and explained: "Right from the beginning we had a discussion about who we thought would play this role. There was a list, because there are only nominal actresses of that age. They are great actresses.

"Kim is amazing. There is a strength about Kim now, at her age, more than when she was working in her 30s. She has a left-over vulnerability from her 20s that you can really see."

Venice Film Festival 2008: Charlize Theron salutes film actresses over fifty (The Telegraph)
Theron embraces producing role (BBC)
photo: Albert L. Ortega PR/Photos

Here is guest post from screenwriter, and author Amy Ferris. (warning- spoilers included)

Maybe it’s just me.

I want to preface this by saying that I liked the movie Hancock. Much more than I thought I would. I like Will Smith. He’s smart and sexy and has a great face. And I really like that guy Bateman. Talk about smart and sexy and wow, what a great, great face – he’s funny, and charming and easy, in other words - effortless.

And for a good chunk of the movie I could relate to Charlize Theron. I could relate to her being a mom (although, truth be told, I don’t have kids, but I could relate to her balancing children, husband, life…), I could relate to the Thursday night meatball and spaghetti dinners (although…another truth, my husband is a vegetarian, so we don’t eat meatballs. I eat meatballs, I actually sneak eating meatballs, but that’s another story…), I could relate to her relationship with her husband (finally…need I say more?). And she’s a wonderful, gorgeous, talented actress. Truly. She lights up the screen.

But, and this is again, maybe just me – I could not relate at all when she turned into Super Woman. You know how Superman runs into a phone booth, spins, and boom – head to toe costume, cape, slicked back hair? I can only imagine this Super Woman dashing into a Sephora store, putting on every black kohl eyeliner and hair straightening balm imaginable, and once all that make-up is meticulously applied, she explodes out and lands in H & M, where, in a flurry, manages to try on, and buys (or borrows) a “skintight” black “to the belly button” low-cut tee, skintight black pants, and matching “to the knee” leather boots.

And then of course, all dolled up in her Superwoman ensemble, she goes toe to toe with Hancock.

My husband, who was now sitting on the edge of his seat, (prior to her costume change, he was casually leaning back eating popcorn) says audibly, “God. Jesus. Whoa.” I turn to him, and tell him to sit back, and eat the popcorn.

My point is: I thought Charlize Theron was pretty cool to begin with. She was a mom, a wife, she had a career, she loved her family, she had emotional issues, she had secrets, and she made love to her husband. This to me is a superwoman. I am at a point in my life when getting out of bed can seem miraculous. Before all the black kohl eyeliner, I thought she was beautiful and simple, and smart, and elegant – and a bit disheveled, and had qualities that most women can relate to. Except for the long legs. Most women I know are hoping that Spanx comes out with a leg lengthener along with the tummy tuck and thigh reducer.

Having her wear black eyeliner and skin tight clothing is not my idea of a superwoman, or superhero.

I wonder if a woman had directed this movie, if she would have made Charlize’s spirit -- her heart, her passion, her commitment the very qualities that made her super. I understand all the subtext, the need for sexiness, and theatrics – I understand the need to make people seem larger than life. I understand the need for a make-up artist. I do. But I think the message could have been a bit louder had she stayed exactly who she was, and manifested her dormant power, proving that equality between men and women is not because a woman is wearing high heels and therefore can look a man straight in the eye, but because she has the ability to kick ass barefoot.

- Amy Ferris is an author, a screenwriter, a television writer and a journalist, she lives in Pennsylvania and New York.
photo: Albert L. Ortega/PR Photos

Charlize co-stars in the mega hit Hancock and she said a bunch of interesting things in recent interviews.

On women in film: 'People just aren't willing to see conflict, or ugliness or the more flawed side of life through a female character's eyes. I mean, can you imagine a woman playing Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver? When Robert De Niro does it, it's fine, [but] people are very uncomfortable about seeing that through a woman's eyes. We aren't allowed complexity.' (The Guardian)

On gay marriage: Everyone should have equal rights, especially when it comes to love. But it broke my heart that my friends couldn't do it. I have two girlfriends who are getting married today: I always felt like I wish I could give them my right to marry. And today they get to have that." (The Age)

'I like the way I look. I celebrate that. I don't make excuses for it' (The Guardian)
Standing tall (The Age)

I've been critical of the insider Hollywood show Shootout with Peter Bart (editor of Variety) and Peter Guber (uber-producer) as being so boy-centric. I was catching up on some recent episodes and was happy to see Charlize Theron, Patricia Clarkson, Cheryl Hines and Joan Rivers interviewed.

I was also surprised to have the Peters take on the issue of how Hollywood neglects the older market. Bart believes (as I do) that this strategy is self-defeating since this is a growing demographic that has money. Guber responded that the studios know the audience is there but getting them into the theatres is another story. It requires more patience and older people don't necessarily come to sequels or buy merchandise.

Just goes to show how uncreative the marketing arms of the studio are and how overly obsessed they are with the first dollar instead of long term performance.

Here is some of what Charlize Theron and Patricia Clarkson had to say. Charlize Theron talked about being a producer as well as an actor. She co-stars and produces Sleepwalking currently in theatres.

I believe there is an audience for these [indie] films if you are smart about marketing. They need special care, they are not studio films.

I believe you can make a great film and it can get lost in the marketing campaign.

I asked Michael Seitzman who wrote the screenplay for North Country - why don't you write these kinds of stories more, why don't you write these kind of roles for women? And he said, Charlize, I would write every movie like this but there isn't a demand for it.

This makes me so sad. I believe that people would see the movies if they are good. Lots of the female-centric films released are very weak and watered down in order to appeal to a wider audience.

It's reflective of who we've become as a society. We've become completely fluff obsessed.

Patricia Clarkson's mom Jackie is a Councilwoman in New Orleans so she knows a thing about women in politics. She came on to promote her film Married Life but wound up making comments about women in politics.

Peter Bart: Do you think there is residual resentment of strong women in politics?

PC: Yes. It is difficult. There is this underlying misogyny that exists. It's American and it's difficult for women to rise to power.

and

The people who are most difficult on women are women.

Amen, Patricia.

(Photo credit: Wireimage)