The first full-length trailer for Bombshell landed earlier this month, causing much excitement around the explosive #MeToo movie. The film follows the true story of no-nonsense Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, who made sexual harassment allegations against Fox News’ late chairman, Roger Ailes, in her memoir Settle For More. It stars Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie, with Theron taking the lead role of Kelly. 

But, despite being an Oscar-winning actor with a string of hit films under her belt, Theron has now revealed that she had concerns about taking on the role.

Speaking at a Q&A following a New York screening of Bombshell, Variety reported that Theron said she was “shit scared” to take on the role of Kelly because she is “incredibly well known”. She also described the character, who was fired from NBC for making racist comments, as “conflicting”.

Theron then discussed the imposter syndrome she felt as a producer on the film, adding that she wondered if “there’s somebody out there who can do this better than you can.”

But the actor went on to explain exactly why it is so important that she took on the role and producing credit.

“There is a wave happening right now that sets this apart,” said Theron, adding, “I don’t want my daughters to go through [sexual harassment]. We don’t want our sisters to go through that. We don’t want our mothers to go through that. We just want to be able to go to work and feel safe.”

Theron spoke out about the Me Too movement earlier this year, sharing her own experience. 

Opening up on The Howard Stern Show, Theron recalled being sent to audition with a high-profile producer who “was a very big deal and is still a big deal” at 9pm on a Saturday night at the start of her acting career. She said that when she arrived, he answered the door in his pajamas.

Theron recalled that the producer sat much too close to her and was drinking alcohol. He also asked her personal questions and didn’t want her to read the lines she’d brought. The actor said she decided to leave when he put his hand on her knee.

“It’s crazy and girls talk about this where you just go blank,” she said. “Like you don’t know what to do, but I left. I don’t even know how I got out of the house, but I left.”

Theron noted that at the time, she was mad at herself for not speaking up in the moment.

“I was so angry at myself that I didn’t say something,” she continued. “I was like, ‘I’m not that kind of girl. Why did I not tell him to go f*ck himself?” Like it made me so angry.”

It sounds like Theron is definitely the ideal person to take on the Me Too movement in this highly-anticipated film. 

Bombshell is released in UK cinemas on 24 January 2020. 

Images: Getty, Lionsgate