Charlize Theron’s been kicking arse in action flicks for years, but she’s got mad respect for the woman she calls the “OG” of the genre: Uma Thurman. On a recent Jimmy Kimmel Live! chat to hype her Netflix sequel The Old Guard 2, Theron didn’t hold back, saying Thurman’s iconic role as The Bride in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill films deserved a Best Actress Oscar. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Theron called Thurman’s performance “unbelievable,” arguing she set the bar for action heroines while blokes often nick the credit. With The Old Guard 2 pitting these two titans against each other, Theron’s fangirling over Thurman’s Kill Bill legacy is stirring up buzz. Here’s why her shout-out’s got everyone talking and what it means for their epic face-off.
Theron’s Love Letter to The Bride
Theron’s been a fan of Thurman forever, and it’s not just polite co-star chatter. On Kimmel, she spilled that when she started in action with 2005’s Æon Flux, Thurman was her “sensei.” “When I came into the action world, she was really, to me, like, the OG,” Theron said. She’s talking about Thurman’s katana-swinging, vengeance-driven Beatrix Kiddo in Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003) and Volume 2 (2004), a role that mixed raw emotion with jaw-dropping stunts. When Kimmel asked if Thurman should’ve bagged an Oscar, Theron didn’t blink: “A hundred percent.”
Why the Oscar love? Theron reckons men hog the spotlight in action films, but Thurman’s work was next-level. “What she did in that film was just so unbelievable,” she said, pointing out how The Bride’s mix of grit, grace, and heartbreak redefined what women could do in the genre. Thurman’s stunts—like that bonkers Crazy 88 fight—plus her ability to carry Beatrix’s pain, made her a legend, even if the Academy snubbed her. Theron’s not alone in thinking this; fans have long griped about Kill Bill’s lack of Oscar nods, with only BAFTA and Saturn nominations for Thurman, per ScreenRant.
Kill Bill’s Lasting Kick
Kill Bill wasn’t just a film—it was a cultural earthquake. Tarantino’s two-part revenge saga, with Thurman slicing through foes as Beatrix, blended kung-fu flair, spaghetti Western vibes, and pure Tarantino dialogue. The Bride’s yellow tracksuit and Hattori Hanzo sword are iconic, and Thurman’s performance gave it soul. She wasn’t just fighting; she was a mum on a mission, wrestling with vengeance and loss, which ScreenRant notes added a “touching melancholy” to her high-flying action. Despite its cult status, the films got zero Oscar love, which stings even more when you consider Thurman’s Pulp Fiction role as Mia Wallace earned her a Best Supporting Actress nod in 1995.
Theron’s praise highlights how Kill Bill paved the way for action heroines like her own roles in Mad Max: Fury Road and Atomic Blonde. She told Kimmel she’s always wanted to work with Thurman, calling her a “badass” who inspired her career. That dream’s now reality in The Old Guard 2, but Theron admitted she was “scared” to face off with her idol, knowing Thurman’s Kill Bill chops. It’s a cheeky nod to how Thurman’s legacy looms large.
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The Old Guard 2: A Dream Showdown
The Old Guard 2, hitting Netflix on 2 July 2025, is why Theron’s out doing press. She’s back as Andy, the immortal warrior from 2020’s The Old Guard, leading her crew—KiKi Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, and Chiwetel Ejiofor—against a new foe: Thurman’s Discord, the “first immortal,”. The trailer’s a banger, teasing a sword fight where Thurman wields a katana, echoing her Kill Bill days, while Theron swings a battle-axe. Director Victoria Mahoney’s hyping it as “Black Mamba vs. Atomic Blonde,” and fans are losing it over the clash.
The film’s got extra stakes: Andy’s grappling with losing her immortality, while Discord’s got dirt on the team’s past. Henry Golding joins as Tuah, an old mate who might unlock the immortals’ secrets. After delays from Netflix shake-ups and industry strikes, Theron told Variety last year she was “really excited” it’s finally dropping. With Thurman as the villain, it’s a chance for Theron to spar with the woman she’s idolised since Kill Bill blew her mind.
Why Theron’s Right (and Why It Didn’t Happen)
Theron’s not just blowing smoke—Thurman’s Kill Bill performance was a game-changer. Beatrix wasn’t a one-note action star; she was complex, carrying trauma and love through every fight. Theron’s point about men getting the credit rings true—action films often prop up male stars, while women like Thurman had to fight for respect. But the Academy’s tricky with genre flicks. Kill Bill’s hyper-violent, pulpy style might’ve been too wild for 2004’s voters, who gave Best Actress to Charlize Theron herself for Monster. Tough call, but Theron’s own win shows she gets the Oscar game.
What’s Next?
Theron’s shout-out is more than nostalgia—it’s a reminder of Thurman’s influence as The Old Guard 2 gears up to pit them against each other. The trailer’s already got fans buzzing about their katana-vs.-axe duel, and Theron’s comments add fuel, framing it as a clash of action queens. Whether Dong Ji Island—sorry, meant The Old Guard 2—lives up to the hype, it’s clear Thurman’s Kill Bill legacy still packs a punch. Catch it on Netflix this summer, and maybe dust off Kill Bill to see why Theron’s still raving about The Bride.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
