Charlize Theron is a South African-American actress and producer born on 7, August 1975. She’s super famous and has won big awards like an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. Time even put her on their list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2016.
She became famous in the 1990s for starring in big movies like The Devil’s Advocate, Mighty Joe Young, and The Cider House Rules. But she blew everyone away with her role as a serial killer named Aileen Wuornos in the movie Monster in 2003. That role won her an Academy Award, making her the first South African to win one for acting. She was also nominated for another Academy Award for her role in North Country in 2005.
Charlize has been in a bunch of action movies that made a ton of money, like The Italian Job, Hancock, Snow White and the Huntsman, Prometheus, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Fate of the Furious, Atomic Blonde, The Old Guard, F9, and Fast X. She’s also gotten a lot of praise for playing complex characters in movies like Young Adult, Tully, and Bombshell, where she played Megyn Kelly.
Since the early 2000s, Charlize has also been making movies as a producer with her company Denver and Delilah Productions. She’s produced lots of films, many of which she’s starred in, like The Burning Plain, Dark Places, and Long Shot. She became an American citizen in 2007 while still keeping her South African citizenship. And she’s even got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
| Full Name | Charlize Theron |
| Date of Birth | August 7, 1975 |
| Place of Birth | Benoni, South Africa |
| Occupation | Actress, Producer |
| Height | 5 feet 9 inches (1.77 m) |
| Spouse | Stuart Townsend (2001–2009) |
| Children | 2 (adopted) |
| Net Worth | $200 million |
Charlize Theron Early Life and Education
Charlize Theron was born in Benoni, South Africa, on August 7, 1975. She grew up with her parents, Gerda and Charles Theron on a farm near Johannesburg. Charlize’s family background is Afrikaner, with ancestors of Dutch, French, and German descent. Her great-grand-uncle was a military leader in the Second Boer War.
When Charlize was just 15, a tragic event changed her life. Her father, who struggled with alcoholism became violent one night, threatening Charlize and her mother. In self-defense, Charlize’s mother shot and killed him. The authorities ruled it as an act of self-defense so Charlize’s mother didn’t face any charges.
Charlize had a challenging childhood. She didn’t always feel like she fit in at school and she battled health issues like jaundice. Due to illness and medication, her baby teeth rotted and had to be removed surgically. Her permanent teeth didn’t come in until she was about ten years old.
At 13, Charlize went to boarding school and later attended the National School of the Arts in Johannesburg. Despite the turmoil in her family, Charlize remembers her childhood fondly. She didn’t have many modern distractions like video games or computers due to economic sanctions in South Africa at the time, so she had to find ways to entertain herself.
While Charlize is fluent in English, her first language is Afrikaans. Despite her challenges, she’s become one of Hollywood’s most successful actors.
Career
Charlize Theron always dreamed of being a dancer. At 16 she unexpectedly won a modeling contract in Italy and moved with her mom to Milan. After a year of modeling across Europe they settled in the U.S. living in New York and Miami. In New York, she trained at the Joffrey Ballet School until a knee injury ended her dancing career. Feeling lost her mom encouraged her to find a new path.
In 1994 Theron flew to Los Angeles with her mom’s support hoping to break into acting. Starting with very little money she stayed in a cheap motel and struggled to make ends meet. At one point she even took bread from a restaurant to survive. During a tough moment at a bank, a kind stranger talent agent John Crosby helped her cash a check and gave her a chance in Hollywood.
Crosby introduced Theron to acting classes and in 1995 she had her first film role in “Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest.” Her breakout moment came with “The Devil’s Advocate” in 1997 alongside stars like Keanu Reeves and Al Pacino. Theron continued to build her career with diverse roles from playing a hitwoman in “2 Days in the Valley” to starring in successful films like “The Italian Job” and “The Cider House Rules.”
Her most acclaimed role came in 2003 when she transformed into serial killer Aileen Wuornos in “Monster.” Theron’s performance earned her an Academy Award making her the first South African to win Best Actress. This success propelled her into Hollywood’s elite becoming one of the highest-paid actresses.
Throughout the 2000s Theron took on a variety of roles including producing and starring in films like “The Burning Plain” and “Hancock.” She also received recognition for her roles in “North Country” and “In the Valley of Elah” showcasing her versatility as an actress.
Charlize Theron’s 2009 saw her in two films: the post-apocalyptic drama “The Road” where she had brief flashback scenes and the animated movie “Astro Boy” where she voiced a character. In December she co-hosted the draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Cape Town South Africa with other South African celebrities. During rehearsals, she humorously picked an Ireland ball instead of France poking fun at FIFA’s past controversies. This playful act worried FIFA fearing she might repeat it live.
After a break, Theron returned in 2011 with the dark comedy “Young Adult” gaining acclaim for her role as a 37-year-old ghostwriter dealing with depression and alcoholism. Critics praised her performance with Roger Ebert calling her one of today’s best actors. She received a Golden Globe nomination.
In 2012 Theron played villainous roles in two major films: the Evil Queen Ravenna in “Snow White and the Huntsman” and a secretive crew member in Ridley Scott’s “Prometheus.” Both films were box office successes though “Snow White and the Huntsman” received mixed reviews. The following year she was recognized as the 68th Most Valuable Star in Hollywood by Vulture/NYMag.
Theron’s career continued with diverse roles including producing and starring in various films like “Mad Max: Fury Road” where she played Imperator Furiosa earning widespread acclaim. She reprised her role as Queen Ravenna in the sequel “The Huntsman: Winter’s War” which was less successful critically and commercially.
In recent years Theron starred in action films like “The Fate of the Furious” and “Atomic Blonde” expanding her repertoire. She also received acclaim for her role in the comedy-drama “Tully” and starred in “Bombshell” earning an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Megyn Kelly.
Theron’s career extends into producing and appearing in films like “The Old Guard”. Recently she joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Clea and appeared in projects like “The School for Good and Evil” and a cameo in “The Boys.”
In 2023 she returned to the “Fast & Furious” franchise and executive produced the documentary series “Last Call.”
Net Worth
Charlize Theron’s Net Worth is estimated to be $200 Million as of 2024, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Personal life
In 2007 Theron became a citizen of the United States while still keeping her South African citizenship.
Theron has adopted two children: a daughter in March 2012 and another in July 2015. Her interest in adoption began in childhood when she learned about orphanages and the many children needing homes. In April 2019 she shared that her seven-year-old child Jackson is transgender emphasizing that she supports her daughters’ self-discovery and growth.
Theron admires actresses Susan Sarandon and Sigourney Weaver. She has a deep admiration for Tom Hanks whom she considers a role model and watched his films extensively during her youth. Growing up in South Africa she didn’t realize Hanks’ fame until moving to the US which she believes has grounded her attitude towards celebrity.
Theron sought therapy in her thirties to address anger issues stemming from her upbringing during South Africa’s apartheid era.
In 2019 Theron discussed her approach to acting emphasizing the importance of developing both physical and emotional aspects of her characters. She describes her preparation as a dedicated study often done alone at home.
Theron has been a longtime fan of the band Depeche Mode and presented them at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2020.
Theron’s first public relationship was with actor Craig Bierko from 1995 to 1997.
She dated singer Stephan Jenkins until October 2001 influencing some of his music after their breakup.
Theron began a relationship with Irish actor Stuart Townsend in 2001 which lasted until late 2009.
From December 2013 to June 2015 Theron dated actor Sean Penn denying engagement rumors.
Theron has suffered several injuries on film sets including a herniated disc in her neck during “Æon Flux” requiring a neck brace.
During “The Old Guard” she tore a ligament in her thumb during a fight scene necessitating multiple surgeries and months in a thumb brace.
While filming “Atomic Blonde” she clenched her jaw so tightly that she broke her teeth requiring dental surgery.
Outside action roles she endured a herniated disk and experienced depression-like symptoms while filming “Tully” possibly due to her character’s diet.
She was diagnosed with a severe stomach virus in July 2009 likely contracted overseas.
During “The Road” she injured her vocal cords from screaming during labor scenes.
While promoting “Long Shot” she laughed so hard at “Borat” that her neck locked for five days and once ended up in the ER after hitting her head on a bench while putting on knee pads.
Other ventures
Charlize Theron has been doing some amazing stuff to help people in Africa, especially young people fighting against HIV/AIDS. She started something called the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project, or CTAOP, back in 2007. By 2017, they had raised over $6.3 million to support groups in Africa that are working hard to fight HIV/AIDS.
In 2008, she became a United Nations Messenger of Peace. That means she got recognized for all the good she’s been doing, especially for women and kids in South Africa. She even made a video in 2014 to help stop rape as part of the UN’s program.
One cool thing she did was team up with Toms Shoes in 2009 to make a special shoe inspired by African trees. They gave away 10,000 pairs to kids who needed them, and some of the money went to support CTAOP.
In 2020, CTAOP joined forces with Parfums Christian Dior for a project called Dior Stands With Women. They got people like Cara Delevingne and Yalitza Aparicio involved to encourage women to speak up about their lives and struggles.
Theron is also big on women’s rights. She’s marched in rallies supporting a woman’s right to choose and has been a strong advocate for same-sex marriage. She said she wouldn’t get married until everyone could because she believed in equal rights for all.
CTAOP has been part of some big events too, like the Fame and Philanthropy fundraiser in 2014, where they got support during the Academy Awards. Theron also signed a letter in 2015 urging leaders to focus on women’s issues, and in 2018, she gave a speech about preventing AIDS at a big conference.
Just recently, in 2022, Charlize Theron was honored with the Elizabeth Taylor Commitment to End AIDS Award for her work alongside Sheryl Lee Ralph at a gala fundraiser. It’s great to see someone using their fame to make such a positive impact!
In 2004, Charlize Theron made a deal with fashion designer John Galliano. She took over from model Tiiu Kuik as the face of J’Adore perfume by Christian Dior. Then, in 2018, she starred in a new ad for the same perfume.
Between October 2005 and December 2006, Theron earned $3 million for letting Raymond Weil use her picture in ads all over the world for their watches. But in February 2006, Weil sued her and her company for breaking their deal. They settled the lawsuit on November 4, 2008.
In 2018, Charlize Theron, along with Brad Pitt, Daniel Wu, and Adam Driver, became ambassadors for Breitling watches. They’re known as the Breitling Cinema Squad.
