Charlize Theron got carried away while filming a fight scene for 2 Days in the Valley

Being nervous on your first job is a very normal feeling that many of us have also experienced. However, punching someone on your very first job is not something a lot of people can relate to but Charlize Theron definitely can. Theron once punched a co-star while filming her very first movie, 2 Days in the Valley as the American actress once revealed in an interview.

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron talks about how she got the role in 2 Days in the Valley

Charlize Theron is one of the most established actresses in the industry at the moment. However, that was not the case back in the 90s when she was trying to make it as a model before becoming a successful actress.

After failing to make it as a model, Theron decided to try her luck in acting but to become successful even in the acting industry requires skills with a pinch of luck working in your favour. The Monster actress went on to audition for the role of Helga Svelgen in the movie 2 Days in the Valley and caught the attention of the director, John Herzfeld.


Charlize Theron in 2 Days in the ValleyCharlize Theron in 2 Days in the Valley
At the 20th anniversary of the movie, Charlize Theron appeared for a screening of 2 Days in the Valley followed by a Q&A session along with the director, John Herzfeld, and co-star, Glenne Headly. The actress opened up about how she ended up getting the role of Helga Svelgen in the movie and said,

“I had been in L.A. for about 10 months. I really didn’t know where my life was going to go. I was so intrigued by this aspect of storytelling, even though I wasn’t crystal clear about what it was. I think my naivety and stupidity kind of helped me in a weird way. And John was crazy enough to give me the job.” (Via WWD)

Charlize Theron went on to nail the audition, despite it being the third audition of her life which impressed John Herzfeld.

The Devil’s Advocate actress ended up punching her co-star while filming 2 Days in the Valley

It is easy to get carried away as a rookie sometimes and that is exactly what happened with Charlize Theron while filming 2 Days in the Valley. There was a fight scene in this movie where Theron was supposed to do a scripted fight with Teri Hatcher who was one of the most popular actresses at the time.

However, Theron allegedly got carried away and ended up punching Hatcher right in the face. In an interview with W magazine, Charlize Theron opened up about the incident and revealed that she sent the Desperate Housewives star cheap beers the next day as an apology. She said,

“I think she was bruised. And because it was Teri Hatcher, who was a star, and I was this bleached-blonde-Amazonian, catsuit-wearing nobody who was punching her in the face, I was like a wild animal. Back then I didn’t know how to hone in my energy and I was knocking over lights. I had no concept of a set. I connected right with Teri Hatcher’s face. I felt terrible about it. I had no money and sent her some cheap beer the next day. Sorry, Teri.”

Charlize Theron and Teri Hatcher in 2 Days in the ValleyCharlize Theron and Teri Hatcher in 2 Days in the Valley


Although 2 Days in the Valley was not much of a critical and commercial success, the movie ended up giving a perfect debut to Charlize Theron. The actress went on to star in The Devil’s AdvocateMighty Joe Young, and The Cider House Rules in the next 3 years and rose to prominent fame for her role in these movies.

2 Days in the Valley is currently streaming on Fubo.