Charlize Theron, 50, Turns NYC Into Her Playground, Scaling Billboard After ‘Apex’ Prep
People in Times Square stopped and looked up this week as Charlize Theron climbed a large billboard in the middle of the city. The moment was part of a live promotion for her new film Apex, which is now streaming on Netflix.
The actress, who is 50, used full climbing equipment as she slowly made her way up the structure. People gathered below and watched as she reached the top and looked out over the area. The stunt was tied directly to her role in the movie, where she plays a woman trying to survive in a dangerous situation.
The film also stars Taron Egerton and was directed by Baltasar Kormákur. It follows a story set in the wild parts of Australia, where Theron’s character ends up in a life-or-death struggle after meeting a stranger. The production was filmed on location in New South Wales, including areas near the Blue Mountains. Eric Bana also appears in the film.
Charlize Theron rock-climbed a billboard in Times Square just to tell you that APEX is NOW ON NETFLIX. pic.twitter.com/1TcOiVkP3t
— Netflix (@netflix) April 24, 2026
Theron trained for weeks before filming. She worked with climber Beth Rodden to prepare for the physical scenes. This was her first time learning how to climb. She said, “I had never climbed, except for trees when I was a kid in Africa. It’s great. It’s so much fun.”
I can’t believe I saw Charlize Theron climbing a Times Square billboard 😭
— New York Mickey (@MickmickNYC) April 24, 2026
The lucky people who happened to be there stopped in their tracks as everyone looked up while she scaled a massive billboard towering over the streets. The woman is an absolute icon… because who else is… pic.twitter.com/9F8deDyepx
At the film’s New York premiere, she spoke about her character and what she liked about her. She said the role stood out because of the personality behind it, calling her “scrappy” and adding, “her tenacity, her grit. She’s resilient, she’s a true survivor.”
The public stunt in Times Square helped show the work she put into the role and connected the film to a real moment people could see in person. It also showed how actors are using real-life actions to promote their projects in a more direct way.
Theron is also working on another major project, The Odyssey, which is expected to arrive in theaters soon.
This kind of promotion makes sense. It is simple and easy to understand. You see the actor doing something real, not just talking about it. It helps people connect with the film. At the same time, it raises the question of how far actors should go for attention.
What do you think about this kind of promotion? Do stunts like this make you more interested in a movie? Share your thoughts in the comments.