Charlize Theron found an unexpected climbing coach in her adventurous 11-year-old daughter, August.
The Oscar-winning actress revealed that August joined her at the gym while Theron trained with professional climber Beth Rodden for her upcoming Netflix action movie Apex, which follows a rock climber hunted in the wilderness.
"She's a bit of a daredevil," Theron exclusively told E! News at the New York City premiere of Apex on April 22. "Beth and I would be working on one side, and whenever I got tired, I would just look over and the two of them were just going up these walls."
August climbed alongside Rodden's 10-year-old son, providing Theron with a fresh perspective.
"Sometimes, as an adult, you get so caught up in the mechanics of it," the 50-year-old continued. "And then you just look over and these kids who know nothing, they're just like, 'Gotta get to the top.'"
That simple approach was exactly the motivation Theron needed. "And you're like, 'OK, that's all I have to do. Just get to the top.' It was fun to share that with her."
But when asked about her Mother's Day plans with August and her 14-year-old daughter Jackson, Theron opted for a low-key celebration. "They better bring me tea or something in bed," she quipped. "Hint, hint."
While Theron appreciates a restful holiday, she remains enthusiastic about action-packed roles. "Our physical bodies can say a lot," she shared. "We as actors sometimes use words as a crutch and when you strip all of that away, it's a really, really good exercise for actors to really understand that mind and body has to be connected."
Despite her action-hero image, Theron clarified she doesn't seek out these roles exclusively. "It's actually the opposite," she said. "I like being an actor that can diversify, but this was, to me, such a bad ass movie."
Apex, also starring Taron Egerton, premieres globally on Netflix April 24.