Charlize Theron is quickly proving that she does the grittiest roles the best.

• Everyday people who won over Hollywood stars
• ‘Gone Girl’ is unlike anything you’ve ever seen
• If you liked these bestsellers, you’ll love these new books

After her Oscar-winning turn as serial killer Aileen Wuornos in 2003’s Monster and her starring role as the powerful Furiosa in this year’s Mad Max: Fury Road, Theron is back playing another strong-willed female with a dark past.

The red carpet icon stars in the upcoming film Dark Places, the big screen adaptation of Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn’s novel of the same name.

The first trailer for the murder mystery shows Theron as lead character Libby Day, a woman haunted by the brutal murder of her family as a child.

Years later, Libby is forced to revisit the events of that fateful day when she meets a secret society obsessed with solving crimes.

The film sees Theron once again pair up with her Mad Max costar Nicholas Hoult, who plays Lyle, a member of the crime-solving club.