Charlize sparks Mad Max fever in Namibian dorpie
8 Jul 2012 Sunday Times
HOLLYWOOD star Charlize Theron rocked her baby, Jackson, to sleep in her arms between film shoots in the dunes around Swakopmund in Namibia.
The bombshell from Benoni also displayed a healthy appetite when the cameras stopped rolling tucking into medium-rare beef fillet, pork schnitzel with chips and pizza takeaways.
And it appears that the Oscarwinning actress likes to freshen up with old favourites Nivea and Radoxafter a long day on set.
Theron arrived in the seaside town two weeks ago to film Mad Max 4: Fury Road, alongside Australian strongman-turnedactor Nathan Jones and Britains Tom Hardy.
Hardy will portray the title character in the fourth instalment of the action film franchise, which first aired in 1979 with Mel Gibson in the title role.
It is believed that Theron, who had tabloids aflutter recently after having her locks shorn to a buzz cut for the role, will portray his love interest in the multimillion-rand movie.
This week Swakopmund, primarily a holiday destination 30km from Walvis Bay, buzzed with celebrity fever and the hamlets guesthouses and hotels brimmed with film crew and cast members.
Staff at a local beauty and massage parlour literally had their hands full massaging the aching muscles of the movies stunt doubles.
Theron has often been seen dining and shopping in the town without bodyguards and cradling her recently adopted six-month-old son. Locals described her as friendly and still fluent in Afrikaans.
Last Thursday the star stopped by at Swakopmunder Apotheke where she stocked up on vitamins, shampoo, makeup remover and Radox shower gel infused with lemon grass and lime.
It was quite strange, said Melvoureen Cloete, who works at the pharmacy.
She skipped the fancy, expensive counters and bought Nivea makeup remover and just ordinary shampoo. She was very, very friendly.
The actress has also earned a reputation among Swakopmunds restaurant staff for leaving generous tips.
Doreen Khoe-aos from Café Anton, on the towns palm-lined beach front, said Theron ordered a pork schnitzel and chips with juice and left a R78 tip on a R222 bill.
She was here with two friends and her baby. She was really nice, said Khoe-aos.
Yvonne Kharogas, a waitress at The Wreck restaurant, served Theron medium-rare beef fillet with chips, a Greek salad, and a glass of shiraz.
Theron visited the upmarket restaurant with three women and Jackson.
Jackson became a little bit restless so Charlize got up holding him against her chest and walked around the restaurant until he slept.
Her food even grew cold while she was putting him to sleep. Then she handed him to one of the other women and finally ate, said Kharogas.
She had a good appetite. She nearly finished everything on her plate.
Jones, meanwhile, who was sentenced to 16 years in prison for eight armed robberies before he turned to professional wrestling and eventually acting, honed his muscles at the Aquarius Health and Fitness Centre, next door to the Swakopmund Hotel.
Pin-up pictures adorn the walls at the gym, which offers a small assortment of dated equipment.
A staff member said: Nathan usually weighs about 150kg but had to lose 30kg for the film as it is about famine and he has to look thinner.
Jones famously fought Brad Pitt s character, Achilles, in the film Troy .
But some of Swakopmunds residents have raised concerns over the movie, directed by Australian George Miller. Desert tour operator Tommy Collard said the crew were not adhering to conservation rules in the sensitive and protected dune belt of the Dorob National Park, the primary filming location.
Filming on Mad Max 4 was moved to Namibia after unprecedented rainfall rendered the original Australian locations unsuitably lush.
Local production company Moonlighting did not respond to questions.
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