Charlize Theron Recounts Feud With Tobey Maguire On Set Of ‘The Cider House Rules’

In 1999, Charlize Theron joined the cast of The Cider House Rules in retelling the story originally crafted by author John Irving, and she was joined by fellow actor Tobey Maguire, but the two actors didn’t get along as well as the film might imply. In fact, Theron says some days were unbearable with the friction between them, but she adds their inability to get along was only temporary. Today, Charlize and Tobey are great friends and The Cider House Rules is partly responsible for that, says Theron.

The Cider House Rules Forced Charlize Theron And Tobey Maguire To Forge A Friendship

The film was released in 1999, just as both Theron and Maguire were really coming into their superstardom, so there wasn’t really an issue of big egos, says Charlize, but the two simply had a hard time relating to one another behind the scenes.

“Tobey and I had a bit of a rough time,” the 40-year-old star of The Huntsman: Winter’s War recalls. “I mean, we’re good now. It was a difficult movie. Every day is completely different for a completely different reason. Whether it’s the weather, or the writing isn’t there, or you don’t get along with your castmate, you have to be able to go to something else that’s just as powerful. Does it make it as enjoyable? Probably not. I mean, there were just a couple of days that Tobey and I had a rough time.”

Charlize is pleased to reveal that their feud was short-lived and that, throughout later parts of filming The Cider House Rules, she and Tobey had an enjoyable experience. Theron says some of the difficulty arose from her own awkwardness in filming the love scenes, adding that it was a learning experience for her. The film required Charlize and Tobey to share some very intimate moments, says Theron, and she says she had to learn to love someone else mentally and emotionally while performing physically with Maguire.

Charlize Theron’s Son Has A Case Of Puppy Love For Winter’s War Co-Star Emily Blunt

The sequel to the 2012 hit Snow White and the Huntsman tells the story of another feud, this one fictitious, and pits sisters Ravenna (Theron) and Freya (Emily Blunt) against one another in an icy, bitter battle, but, behind the scenes of The Huntsman: Winter’s War, things are anything but cold. To start off, Charlize confesses to finding her co-star, Chris Hemsworth, more than a little alluring.

“He is pretty,” said Theron. “I’m not gonna lie, that boy is pretty.”

Charlize isn’t the only one in the family finding adoration for the stars of The Huntsman: Winter’s War, either. The actress reveals that her son, 4-year-old Jackson, also has a big crush, but on another one of Theron’s co-stars.

“He thinks she’s the most beautiful girl he’s ever seen in his life, which is just crushing,” said Theron, speaking of her son’s crush on Blunt’s Queen Freya. “But at least it’s someone that I love and respect, so I can deal with it a little bit better.”

Ms. Theron keeps a good sense of humor about it and tries not to embarrass her son too much, even though Charlize says the opportunity is there, each time they pass a poster for The Huntsman: Winter’s War.

“When I drive him to school, it’s always the same poster [he sees],” laughs Charlize. “He’s like, ‘Look, Mom, it’s Emily.’ And I’m like, ‘And your mother is right next to her!’ ”

Apparently, Charlize Theron is as outspoken with her own son as she is in the media.

The Huntsman: Winter’s War, starring Chris Hemsworth, Jessica Chastain, Charlize Theron, and Emily Blunt, is currently showing in theaters.

[Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images]