Before Charlize Theron made it as one of Hollywood's most sought-after actress, she was practically a "nobody." No one had heard of her before or she has not achieved that level of stardom yet that she has now when she decided to audition for a sexy role in "Showgirls." So obviously, she did not get the part.

"Showgirls" director Paul Verhoeven talked about the 1995 film during an exclusive interview with the New York Daily News. The 77-year-old, who has directed several more classic films including "Basic Instict" and the 1987 "Robocop," recalled that time Charlize auditioned for the lead role. The "Mad Max: Fury Road" star reportedly didn't have any qualms stripping off just to get the part.

"Charlize also auditioned, and I don't recall her having any problem with the nudity at all. She was good and wanted the part, but basically she was not well known enough at the time and just did not fit the part, so we said no," he said.

However, Verhoeven said Charlize was fortunate that she did not get the lead part because "Showgirls" was a major flop. If she had been in the film then she would have suffered the same career fate as Elizabeth Berkley, who at 23 was already famous for her role in "Saved by the Bell" so was given the lead role.

"I have full respect for Charlize, but if she had been offered the part then she would probably have been chewed up in the same way they treated Elizabeth. She was very lucky that she did not get the part. I wish Charlize congratulations for that because it would have have been a miserable 20 years for her!" Verhoeven told the New York Daily News.

"Showgirls" reportedly gave Berkley the ultimate shun in the Hollywood movie industry. Soon after she did not get other lead roles and was offered small parts in TV shows including "Titus," "NYPD Blue" and "The L Word." She did not receive the stardom that Charlize now has years after she auditioned for the movie.

Charlize once talked about her hardships before becoming a Hollywood movie star during an interview with Esquire. Born in South Africa, the actress revealed the harsh and dangerous life she lived surrounded by people suffering from hunger and from HIV/Aids. She had left her former life at the age of 18 to try her luck at modelling in Italy but was given the opportunity to be an actress when she met her agent in Los Angeles.