Charlize's theory on sweet love

A great director and a great script - what made Sweet November was that it had both.

The director [Circle Of Friends' Pat O'Connor] is someone whose movies are full of drama about real people and real emotion. And the script was great, a high standard. Plus, it was a collaborative project.

I play a girl who has to make some difficult choices. Sweet November is about the way decisions are forced on us - and how they are often affected by circumstances. Keanu Reeves is the closed-off, driven guy - I'm the free-spirited woman.

My character comes across Keanu's when we're taking our driving tests. She wants to involve him in her life without really thinking about it. We realise early on that she has created her own rules in a society that doesn't necessarily approve of them.

Keanu and I had talked about working together again for a while. Usually when we were drunk. We remained friends after Devil's Advocate - this is the first time I've worked with somebody more than once. It's really a blessing because you know each other's quirks and foibles. There's a certain amount of comfort you have.

What's the big secret? I can't give it away, but let's just say this film is a remake. But obviously it's a love story that happens between these two characters - and everything just goes out the window when they realise they're in love. So the focus goes back to what kind of love this is, how these two people feel, and what they're willing to sacrifice.