It didn’t matter to the packed audience inside or the crowd bundled up against a stiff wind outside the Lobero Theatre Tuesday night that Charlize Theron was running late. Golden Globe-winner Charlize is simply the hottest star on the planet and her presence meant another coup for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which opened last weekend with a tribute to filmmaker Peter Jackson and a host of national attention.

On this night, Theron was honored with Outstanding Performance of the Year for her portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster, the indie hit that she also backed as producer. Pete Hammond, a veteran film writer and producer, moderated the tribute that included film clips and an in-depth interview with Theron.

Theron, who sat in the audience with her mother to watch a montage of scenes from most of her 23 films, admitted after being introduced that she rarely watches her films. "I’m so emotionally involved when I make a movie, I don’t watch." She did joke about her nudity in a clip from The Cider House Rules and commented, "There are different aspects to acting and nudity is an aspect to life."

At 28, and an odds-on favorite to win the Oscar® for Best Actress at this year’s Academy Awards, Theron’s film roles cast her as a versatile actor and not just a screen beauty. Growing up on a farm in South Africa, she gave credit to her mother for directing her creative energy even though she told few people that she wanted to be an actress. When she found herself on the billboard for 2 Days in the Valley people began to take notice, but offered only roles that typecast her. She held out and accepted a three-minute part in That Thing You Do! "I had such a crush on Tom Hanks," she said. "I grew up on his films."

After watching an extended clip of The Devil’s Advocate, Theron said she had to undergo five screen tests for director Taylor Hackford to play the wife of Keanu Reeves, a role she felt could challenge her as an actress. She gave credit to Al Pacino for elevating her craft, "Working with Al, I realized that to be good you have to make a lot of mistakes. You make wrong choices to make right choices."

On Monster, Theron absolutely loved the script and became interested in producing after meeting with Patty Jenkins, the film’s screenwriter and director.

"She was so prepared, she blew me away. I connected with Patty right from the beginning. I wanted to learn to be a producer."

Theron shared that part of her transformation into Aileen Wuornos included wearing false teeth. "I had to re-learn speech with the teeth," she said. "I wore them constantly."

Actor Bill Paxton who co-starred with Theron in Mighty Joe Young was called upon to present Theron with her award for Outstanding Performance of the Year. A tearful Theron again acknowledged her mother and thanked the Santa Barbara International Festival for her tribute. "I haven’t had an experience like this before." The first of many in what is sure to be a long career.

James C. Davis

LifestylePR@hotmail.com