Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron's scrapbook must be getting pretty low on blank pages these days. After a less-than-exceptional start (anyone remember Mighty Joe Young, the must-see gorilla movie of 1997?), Theron drew acclaim with notable performances in films such as The Cider House Rules. With an Oscar win for 2004's Monster, Theron has finally vaulted to the top of Hollywood's short, elusive and constantly-changing A-list. Why then, in an industry where women yearn to be taken seriously, has she seemingly abandoned the socially conscious dramas which got her to the top?

In her latest film, December's sci-fi fantasy Aeon Flux, Theron plays a leather-clad assassin 400 years in the future. Her mission: to topple the corrupt, big-brother government that rules society. Compared to her role in this fall's North Country, in which she plays a coal miner fighting for gender equality, Aeon Flux sounds even less like it has any sort of meaningful message.

But though the differences between this film and her others are no doubt staggering, Theron implied via teleconference that there is more to Aeon Flux than one might initially think. "It wasn't just about doing backflips and killing people," Theron said, though action fans can rest assured that there's plenty, if the trailer is any indication. "The whole film is about questioning your government-. It's about not being blindsided and just kind of sitting back and thinking everything is fine, but really taking a stance and asking questions about what your government is doing."

Maybe Theron has found that rare diamond-in-the-rough, the Matrix-esque sci-fi film that actually holds deeper meaning. Or maybe not. But, whether or not this movie is actually "about something" appears to be of secondary concern for Theron. "Of course I care about my fans," she said. "But the thing is there's no recipe-there's no formula that really works- given an Oscar or no Oscar, for me, as an actor, the most important thing has always been to be true to myself and to do work that really means something to me."

It's this confidence, this mutability and this fearlessness in the face both our expectations and Hollywood's, that make Theron someone worth watching this holiday season and probably for every holiday season for the next decade, too.