Theron to attend NZ premiere

After a diet of hobbits and gorillas, finally a beauty is to visit our red carpets - Charlize Theron will be in Auckland with New Zealand director Niki Caro for the New Zealand premiere of North Country.

Theron will make a whistlestop trip on January 27 for the New Zealand premiere of the movie, for which she has been nominated for a Golden Globe at tomorrow's awards.

She is also tipped as an Oscar contender.

Theron plays Josey Aimes, a single mother and miner who drives the first class-action, sexual harassment lawsuit in the United States.

The 2004 Oscar-winning actress will accompany North Country director Niki Caro for the premiere at Village SkyCity cinemas in Queen St.

Theron - a Whale Rider fan - has attributed Caro's directorship as a major factor in her decision to take the role, and Roadshow Film Distributors spokeswoman Helen Goudge suspects it is also why she has decided to come to New Zealand.

The South African actress will be in Australia with Caro promoting the film at the Sydney premiere on January 23 before going to Melbourne and then New Zealand.

"Stars often go to Melbourne and Sydney to promote films, but not New Zealand because we aren't a huge place. Obviously I can't speak for Charlize, but I'd say she's decided to come to support Niki Caro for the release in her home country."

North Country is Caro's first major work since Whale Rider in 2003.

Theron and co-star Frances McDormand have been nominated for best actress and supporting actress at the Golden Globes, which will be awarded tomorrow and are widely viewed as an indicator of likely Oscar contenders.

Theron has also been listed as an Oscar contender in the Screen Actors' Guild nominations.

Theron won her first Oscar as best actress in 2004 for Monster, in which she played serial killer and prostitute Aileen Wuornos.

North Country premiered in the United States in October. Its New Zealand release is February 2.