Charlize Theron gained 50 pounds for Tully and 30 for Monster, telling one interviewer that “the joy of the job” is the process of transforming for a role. Her intensity is as vivid on-screen as off-, in her work as a producer. Even when she struts through the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles or glides through a pool that looks like molten gold for J’adore, the Dior fragrance, she never breaks eye contact—or character. Her nighttime routine is also appropriately exacting.
When do you go to bed?
I’m a single mom to two young girls. Their bedtime is pretty specific every night, so it’s really whenever I get them down. We go to bed very early because we wake up every morning at 5:45. I try not to go to bed past 10, 10:30.
When they’re asleep, depending on how much time I have—and if I didn’t fall asleep next to one—I try to utilize that time as effectively as possible.
Do you take supplements?
If I work out a lot, I take a little bit of calcium. That really helps with my sleep too. If it’s winter, I take vitamin D.
Do you watch anything while getting ready for bed?
It depends. I’m not very religious about it. I try to take a little bit of time to watch something that I want to watch because before that I’m usually at the mercy of what my children want to watch or do.
What’s one thing you always do before bed?
Other than emptying your bladder? I don’t know.
What do you wear?
I used to just wear a T-shirt and underwear, until somebody made me hyper-aware of the fact that I live in California and that there could be an earthquake at any moment. Now I wear shorts with my T-shirt.
TAKE US THROUGH YOUR SKIN-CARE ROUTINE.
I really love the Dior Prestige line. I’m really lucky that I get to play around with all the Dior products. I think they have an incredible moisturizer, and their lip cream is so rich. I can’t get enough. Other than that, it’s washing my face with a milk cleanser, brushing my teeth, and loading up on moisturizer.
Are you specific about your sleep conditions?
The older you get, the more sensitive of a sleeper you become. When I think back on my early 20s, I could sleep anywhere. I had no issue; I could sleep through anything. Then you get a little bit older, and you definitely sleep less and are more sensitive to light and sound. At my home, my curtains are full blackout. When I find a place to stay when I’m shooting, I make sure of that. A lot of my movies shoot [during] nights, so I have to be able to sleep during the day.
I sleep very lightly because my kids are still young. When you have small children, you’re constantly on a light-sleeping mode just because you’re scared they’re going to need you or cry. I don’t think my rem sleep is very great.
Tell me about your bed.
Just a pillow to sleep on. Hopefully, some good sheets. Something that’s not too coarse.
How do you decompress after a day of shooting?
When I’m working on a movie, I go in knowing that it’s the priority. I don’t ever think of anything as being “decompressing” when I’m working. I’m constantly thinking about re-writes or locations that burned down. The producer in me does not go to bed. It’s just trying to get as much sleep as possible.
I am not the actor that I was 20 years ago who showed up and did the part and spent all day in her trailer. I just don’t do that anymore. Now I’m responsible for the budgets, for the movie. It’s all-consuming. It’s exhausting.
Where’s your favorite place to sleep?
I like coming home after working on a movie and sleeping in my bed at home, but I also have slept in some great beds in other places in the world.
Jensen Davis is the Junior Editor at Air Mail
