Charlize Theron believes AI could do Timothee Chalamet’s job in 10 years but not ‘replace’ ballet

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Charlize Theron recently took a dig at Timothee Chalamet’s controversial comments on opera and ballet. Addressing the controversy, Theron said it was reckless for the actor to suggest that "no one cares about" opera or ballet anymore.

She added that while AI may eventually be capable of performing acting jobs similar to his, it "will not be able to replace" the immediacy and discipline required in live art forms such as ballet. She also discussed the rise of artificial intelligence in the entertainment industry and its potential to replicate certain screen performances in the future.

Chalamet’s earlier remarks had drawn attention across the industry, prompting debate among performers and audiences over the cultural relevance of traditional performing arts. Theron’s comments now add to that ongoing discussion

Charlize Theron takes aim at Timothee Chalamet over opera and ballet remarks

While speaking to The New York Times, Theron praised dancers, saying, "Dance is probably one of the hardest things I ever did. Dancers are superheroes. What they put their bodies through in complete silence." Her comments come as ongoing discussions continue in Hollywood over the role of AI in acting and the cultural value of traditional performance arts.

The conversation then turned to Chalamet's past comment that "no one cares" about ballet or opera anymore. Responding to that, Theron did not hold back. “Oh, boy, I hope I run into him one day. That was a very reckless comment on an art form, two art forms, that we need to lift up constantly because, yes, they do have a hard time. But in 10 years, AI is going to be able to do Timothee’s job, but it will not be able to replace a person on a stage dancing live.”

She stressed that live performance carries a depth and physical reality that technology cannot match. Theron also spoke about how dance shaped her own discipline and resilience. "And we shouldn’t (expletive) on other art forms. Dance taught me discipline. It taught structure. It taught hard work. It taught me to be tough. It’s borderline abusive."

"There were several times that I had blood infections from blisters that just never healed. And you don’t get a day off. I’m literally talking about bleeding through your shoes. And that’s something that you have to practice every single day, the mind-set of just, you don’t give up, there’s no other option, you keep going," she added. 

Timothee Chalamet's controversial remark on opera and ballet

During the 'Variety & CNN Town Hall Event' earlier this year, Chalamet spoke about his views on the future of moviegoing and compared it to traditional performing arts. “I admire people, and I’ve done it myself, (who) go on a talk show and go, ‘Hey, we gotta keep movie theaters alive. You know, we gotta keep this genre alive,” he said. 

“And another part of me feels like, if people wanna see it, like ‘Barbie,’ like ‘Oppenheimer,’ they’re gonna go see it and go out of their way and be loud and proud about it,” he added. Chalamet then referenced ballet and opera while explaining his concern about art forms struggling to stay relevant in modern culture.

“And I don’t want to be working in ballet or opera, or things where it’s like, ‘Hey, keep this thing alive.’ Even though it’s like, no one cares about this anymore. All respect to the ballet and opera people out there. I just lost 14 cents in viewership.”