# The $450,000,000 Oscar-winning movie Charlize Theron turned down: “Whomever is in it will become a big star”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-450000000-oscar-winning-movie-charlize-theron-turned-down-whomever-is-in-it-will-become-a-big-star/
- Published: 2026-10-24T21:45:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-24T22:09:22+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/oscar-winning-movie-charlize-theron-turned-down-whomever-in-it-become-big-star/
- Topics: Business, Celebrity, Entertainment, Film, Markets

## Key points

- Theron declined a starring role in *Pearl Harbor*.
- Kate Beckinsale took the role and became a star.
- The film grossed about $450 million worldwide.

## Summary

Charlize Theron turned down the role of army nurse Evelyn Johnson in Michael Bay’s 2001 film *Pearl Harbor*, despite recognising that its scale and commercial prospects could boost her career. She chose *Sweet November* instead, guided by her preference for challenging material and directors she admired.

Theron predicted that whoever starred in *Pearl Harbor* would become a major star, and Kate Beckinsale took the role. The film earned about $450 million worldwide and won an Oscar for sound editing, though it received six Razzie nominations; *Sweet November* performed poorly at the box office and received three Razzie nominations.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.