Theron praises age-defying co-star Basinger

ACADEMY Award winner Charlize Theron has paid tribute to her age-defying co-star Kim Basinger, saying the actress had gained strength as she became older.

Theron, 33, was asked at the Venice Film Festival about Basinger’s role in their film The Burning Plain and whether actresses of a certain age struggled.

Basinger plays the mother of a younger version of the character played by Theron.

Theron revealed: “There is a strength now, at her age, more than when she was working in her 30s, with this leftover vulnerability from her 20s that was unbelievable to watch.

“When she is shaking, her entire body is shaking for real. You can’t fake that.”

When asked why Basinger was not at the conference, another of the film’s stars, Jennifer Lawrence, joked: “Did you not hear, she died?”

Lawrence also paid tribute to Basinger, who is aged 54, as being focused, like watching Monet paint.

She continued: “She’s a gracious actress... I have 100% respect for her.”

Theron also turned down an offer of marriage at the press conference from a journalist, who asked her which side of the bed she preferred to sleep.

She told him: “The side of the bed that you’re not on. Security! You’re very cute but you know my boyfriend will kill you.”

She later asked the reporter jokingly: “How much money do you have?”

The Burning Plain is one of five US productions out of 21 films competing for the Golden Lion. It explores the mysterious connection between several characters separated by time and space. Mexico City-born director Guillermo Arriaga said the story came from his deep love of nature and the human condition.

He said he had had the story in his head for 15 years.

The director said we lived in a society “obsessed with repressing death” and listed an obsession with plastic surgery and diet products as examples.

Theron, who played serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster, plays a woman named Sylvia in The Burning Plain who “must undertake an emotional odyssey”.

She was asked what drew actors to play flawed people.

Theron replied: “You should ask people that question. It’s just who we are.” She “loved” playing Sylvia and added that a moment that brought tears or a chill down the spine was “a moment where you can see yourself, even if it’s just for the blink of a moment.

“Whether it’s pain or joy, these are the things our condition connects to.”

Asked how she enjoyed being an executive producer on the film, Theron said: “I produced Monster... it’s something that I’ve been doing for a while.

“It does not feel like a separate job. At the end of the day it’s about creativity.”

She said there was a business side to it that she naturally leaned towards, adding: “I am fascinated by how this industry survives, how it struggles.

“It’s something that I really enjoy, when I meet people who are like-minded.”