Charlize Theron reveals male directors sexualised her costumes in early film roles

Watch: Charlize Theron talks about "belittling" wardrobe fittings

Charlize Theron says she was pressured into dressing sexy by male directors in order to appear "f***able" in the early part of her film career.

The 47-year-old Oscar winner told Harper's Bazaar it was "belittling" to be subjected to repeated fittings in front of directors trying to increase her sex appeal.

Read more: Carey Mulligan criticises Hollywood beauty pressure

Theron, who won her Oscar with a transformative performance as serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster, said she has subsequently fought for more control over her costumes and appearance in movies.

"Having absolutely no control over what you’re wearing is a big one that really f**king annoyed me for years," she said.

Theron added: ‘Having some guy make you have a fitting almost in front of them – stuff like that, it’s really belittling.

"When I started, there was no conversation around it. It was like: 'This is what you’re wearing'.

"And I remember one movie in particular, this male director who just kept bringing me in, fitting after fitting after fitting after…

"And it was just so obvious that it was to do with my sexuality and how f**kable they could make me in the movie. And when I started out, that was just kind of the norm."

Theron broke out in the 1990s with lead roles in films including The Devil's Advocate, but cemented herself as an A-lister with Monster — in which she pushed to transform herself physically.

In 2019, Theron revealed that she had to "stand her ground" to keep Monster in tact after financiers appeared to expect it to be "a hot lesbian movie" rather than a gritty thriller.

Read more: Charlize Theron compares Mad Max: Fury Road's Furiosa to Ripley

She has since become a key figure advocating for women's rights in Hollywood workplaces, with her recent Netflix actioner The Old Guard made by an 85% female cast and crew.

Theron said: "There’s a natural fight in me to want to create environments that feel like the things that I wish I had 30 years ago when I started.

"I don’t always get it right, but I am very aware of looking at the big picture and saying: ‘Is this really the best we can do?’"

Theron is currently hard at work on the sequel to The Old Guard and will reprise her antagonistic role as cyber-terrorist Cipher in Fast & Furious sequel Fast X.

Read more: Charlize Theron says she was unfairly treated on The Italian Job

She recently made her debut appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, showing up in the post-credits scene of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Theron is portraying Clea — future wife of Doctor Strange and a Sorcerer Supreme in her own right.

Watch: Charlize Theron enjoys taking risks with style and beauty