Charlize Theron claims being a mother has made her more creative.

The 'A Million Ways To Die In The West' star adopted son Jackson as a baby two years ago and insists parenthood hasn't restricted her movie choices.

She said: ''I've heard people say that once they have children they don't want to take on dark material any more, but that hasn't happened for me. If anything, having a child makes me want to be more creative and ask bigger questions and have more interest in things that might be uncomfortable. We all have different responses, but for me, I didn't look at my slate and go, 'Oh God, I can't do that movie now I have a kid.' He just gives me energy to want to do more and explore more.''

Although he isn't too much of a handful, Charlize - who is in a relationship with Sean Penn - admits her son can be a ''dictator'' and bosses her about sometimes.

Asked if she teaches her son the same things her mother taught her growing up, she told Britain's HELLO! magazine: ''Well, he's the epitome of a little boy - and by that I mean a dictator.

''There's a lot of, 'Sit, Mom, sit', and me going, 'No, don't touch'. Then I'll look at my Mom and she'll go, 'You were exactly the same.' But I don't believe that. I think I was really nice and polite.''