It is hard to imagine how Charlize Theron and Nick Stahl could be more different.
The stars of “Sleepwalking,” who play siblings carrying the wounds of an abusive childhood, are seated only a few feet from each other on a dark gray couch during an interview. They are on a promotional tour to discuss what it was about the film that brought together two such opposites.
Theron, 32, is a statuesque former model and dancer from South Africa who earned an Academy Award in 2003 for the film “Monster.” She’s outgoing and charming.
Stahl’s a 28-year-old Texas native whose career has been built on a platform of small, indie films, with only an occasional blockbuster like “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” to his credit. He’s quiet and borderline shy.
There’s nothing shy about Theron when she talks about why she got involved with the movie.
“I cannot help but read every script all the way through,” Theron said. “It is the scripts that I am thinking about the next day that I know I want to do. I was thinking about this script for days.”
Theron was so taken by Zac Stanford’s script that she agreed to be an executive producer for the project. That meant she had to split her focus between getting the movie made and creating the character of Joleen, a flawed mother who latches on to any man who pays attention to her.
Stahl, a man of few words, said his approach is different. There isn’t an exact moment when he reads a script when he knows he wants to be part of the film. He liked how his character, Joleen’s brother, ended up being weak and strong.
Stahl knew from a young age that he wanted to act. He tried sports but realized that he was better at acting.
Theron was a dancer who had an injury that ended her dreams, and acting filled the passion she had for dance.
“It was in losing ballet that I discovered acting. It was through acting that I discovered why I loved ballet so much,” Theron said. “When I had to find something to replace the loss, it was the storytelling, getting on the stage and pretending of acting that helped.”
Sleepwalking !!
Who’s in it: Charlize Theron, AnnaSophia Robb, Nick Stahl, Dennis Hopper
What it’s about: Impulsive mom Joleen (Theron) dumps her 11-year-old daughter Tara (Robb) on Joleen’s brother, James (Stahl), to take off with a trucker.
Worth watching?
“The frigid independent feature tags all the dysfunctional bases but rarely scores compelling character revelations.”
[ BOB STRAUSS, L.A. DAILY NEWS ]
