Charlize Theron has weighed in on the future of performance arts, pushing back against recent remarks by Timothée Chalamet about ballet and opera.

The Oscar-winning actress addressed the debate during an interview with The New York Timeswhere she was asked about the physical and mental demands of her past roles.

Theron called it “very reckless” for Chalamet to suggest that “no one cares” about ballet or opera, defending the art forms while reflecting on her own experience with dance.

“Dance is probably one of the hardest things I ever did. Dancers are superheroes. What they put their bodies through in complete silence,” she said.

Responding to his comments, she added, “Oh, boy, I hope I run into him one day… that was a very reckless comment… because, yes, they do have a hard time.”

She argued that while technology may reshape film acting, live performance remains irreplaceable, stating that in 10 years AI could do Chalamet’s job, but “it will not be able to replace a person on a stage dancing live.”

Theron also stressed, “And we shouldn’t (expletive) on other art forms,” before detailing the physical toll of dance, including injuries and relentless training.

Chalamet had earlier made the remarks during a CNN & Variety Town Hall, warning that cinema should not follow what he described as declining interest in traditional stage arts.