Charlize Theron is drawing renewed attention to Uma Thurman’s work in Kill Bill, calling it a performance that deserved recognition from the Academy. While promoting her upcoming Netflix action sequel The Old Guard 2 on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Theron credited Thurman as one of the reasons she pursued roles in action films, calling her an origin figure in the genre.
“We knew each other kind of offhand,” Theron said during the interview. “But I knew her from being a massive fan, just watching her work, and always wanted to do something with her. Because when I came into the action world, she was really, to me, like, the sensei. She was the OG.”
Thurman’s portrayal of The Bride in Quentin Tarantino’s two-part martial arts epic, released in 2003 and 2004, was cited by Theron as a career benchmark. Theron began her own pivot to action films shortly after, starting with Æon Flux in 2005 and continuing with titles such as Hancock, Atomic Blonde, and Mad Max: Fury Road.
Host Jimmy Kimmel suggested that Thurman should have received the Academy Award for her performance in Kill Bill. Theron agreed without hesitation: “A hundred percent,” she said. “I think men get a lot of credit for these movies. What she did in that film was just so unbelievable.”
Theron has earned three Academy Award nominations across her career. She won Best Actress in 2004 for Monster, and later earned nods for North Country and Bombshell. Thurman received one Oscar nomination in 1995 for her supporting role in Pulp Fiction but was not nominated for Kill Bill, which many viewed as a landmark work in physical performance and screen presence.
The conversation between Theron and Kimmel also touched on the experience of working with Thurman for the first time. Thurman joins the cast of The Old Guard 2, which is set to continue the story of a centuries-old group of immortal warriors. The original film, released in 2020, became one of Netflix’s most viewed titles, reportedly reaching 72 million households within its first month.
Theron admitted she had long considered Thurman a dream collaborator for action choreography. “Since I’ve been in action movies, I’m like, ‘Who do I want to work with and do an action sequence with?’ It’s always been Uma Thurman. Always.”
Their first encounter on set made a strong impression. Theron recalled being intimidated by her co-star’s instincts and presence. “I was definitely intimidated by her,” she said, describing how Thurman reworked their fight choreography during production. “She showed up and she was given one sword and we had worked out this whole sequence, and she went, ‘I think I want two swords.’”
Thurman’s decision, according to Theron, was a reminder of the decisiveness and physical command that defined her earlier work. The moment also reflected how Thurman’s confidence in stylized action remains central to her screen identity.
In The Old Guard 2, Theron reprises her role as Andromache of Scythia, returning alongside KiKi Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts, Marwan Kenzari, and Chiwetel Ejiofor. The sequel introduces new cast members Henry Golding and Uma Thurman. Directed by Victoria Mahoney, the follow-up continues the narrative built around a group of immortal fighters navigating conflicts in the modern world.
The appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! functioned both as a preview for the sequel and as an unscripted recognition of legacy in a genre often dominated by male leads and filmmakers. Theron’s remarks added to ongoing conversations around recognition, gender imbalance, and the history of action cinema.
