Charlize Theron finds it absurd that a 37-year-old woman would think "love conquers all".

The Hollywood actress plays unlikeable writer Mavis Gary in Young Adult. Mavis returns to her hometown hellbent on stealing her former boyfriend from his wife and child.

Charlize enjoyed the role immensely, even though she has no doubt that Mavis suffers from mental issues.

"She is definitely delusional, there is no question about that. I think it's maybe commentary on the fact not only of the foundation of how she was raised but she's a woman in her mid-30s dealing with issues that women in their mid-30s can completely relate to but she's dealing with them like a 16-year-old. Love conquers all! I mean no 37-year-old woman would ever say that," she laughed.

Charlize admits getting filmgoers interested in Mavis will be a "challenge" because she is such a mean person. That was what drew her to the film though as she wanted to test her acting chops.

The actress knew she wanted to take part in the picture as soon as she started reading the script, as the first few lines made her think deeply.

"I think what I love about the beginning of the film is that it really sets up her job which is a writer. It's such an isolating world and I never knew that about writers. She's living in this cocoon about her and the loneliness that she has, and the emptiness that she has," Charlize explained to BBC.