The Insider.com

Charlize Theron has become one of the most popular actresses in recent years, but for this Pop Culture Rewind, we take you back to the beginning of Theron's career before she became a household name, to when she was vying for attention with a massive motorized gorilla.

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In the featured flashback, the up-and-coming star is on the set of the film Mighty Joe Young on this day in 1997 and she jokes about fighting for attention with the motorized gorilla, with whom her character has a strong bond.

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"It's unbelievable how we do scenes with him...and you'll see everybody...looking into the monitor...and everybody is just staring at Joe," Theron says. "After the take...twenty people run up to Joe to groom Joe and I have like one make-up artist who just dabs me...He just takes over. It's unbelievable."

Despite her joking nature towards the crew's focus on Joe, the then-22-year-old actress reveals her true feelings for gorillas, which remain listed as an endangered species.

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"I really did this movie 'cause I thought the message that this movie sent is really something that I think we need to pay more attention to," she says. "It really is about protecting these animals...I thought [the film] had a great heart and soul to it and a wonderful message."

Over the years, Theron has held on to her views on animal rights and has become a supporter of PETA, appearing in advertisements for the organization later in career.

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Although Mighty Joe Young did fairly well with $51 million ($72 million, inflation-adjusted) at the box office, the Disney film's gargantuan $90 million ($127 million, inflation-adjusted) budget had it categorized as a flop.

Notwithstanding the film's success, Theron was increasingly being noticed for her acting, and received her first award nomination for best supporting actress.

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