Charlize Theron at Toronto International Film Festival

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Charlize Theron in the movie North Country.

    BEIJING, Sept. 14 -- Glittering Academy Award winners Charlize Theron arrived at Toronto International Film Festival on Monday, promoting the type of issue-oriented drama traditionally loved by Oscar voters.

    Theron is pinning her hopes to "North Country," directed by New Zealander Niki Caro, who made the sleeper hit "Whale Rider" in 2002. The film is based on the story of the first major successful sexual harassment case in the United States.

    Theron, who won her Oscar for the harrowing "Monster" in 2003, plays a single mother who rallies women workers to rise above the abuse they face at a local mining company.

    She told a festival news conference that Hollywood put too much emphasis on physical beauty, and that what her character looked liked was never discussed with Caro.

    "After "Monster," when I started telling people about this story, some people looked at me and said 'oh, you're doing another ugly movie'," she said.

    "All we discussed (with Caro) was what is the truth of this woman and the life that she's led," Theron said. "All of a sudden, when you get the answer to the emotional side, the physical elements just come quite organically."

    (Agencies)