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When you think about the talent/beauty/brains combo in the acting world, it’s hard not to think of Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron. We thought we’d take a look back at the personal life of the multi-talented actress and philanthropist, who is constantly challenging herself creatively and personally.


Charlie in 1998; Getty Images/Diana Freed
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Charlize had an extremely painful childhood and is a true survivor. Born in rural Benoni, South Africa on August 7, 1975, her father, Charles was an alcoholic and became physically abusive towards Charlize and her mother, Gerda, in 1991. Charlize was 15 when her father violently attacked her and her mother. Charlize watched as Gerda shot and killed Charles. (The murder was deemed an act of self-defense, and Gerda was never charged with a crime.)
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Amazingly, Charlize was able to launch her career despite her personal and terrifying ordeal. At 16, she won a modeling competition and began a modeling career in Milan, where she moved with her mother. (Even today, Charlize has a perfect model’s posture.)
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Charlize traveled to New York when she was 18 and abandoned her modeling aspirations in exchange for her true passion: dancing. She studied with the Joffrey ballet, but sadly, had to abandon dance because of knee injuries.
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“I realized I couldn’t dance anymore, and I went into a major depression,” she told the New York Times. “My mom came over from South Africa and said, ‘Either you figure out what to do next or you come home, because you can sulk in South Africa.’” (Talk about tough love!)
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Charlie in 2000; Getty Images/Christopher Weeks
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So … Charlize booked a one-way ticket to California (which her very loving mother bought her) to begin a career in film.
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She landed a non-speaking bit part (as an uncredited “Young Woman”) in the straight-to-video “Children of the Corn III” in 1995. It was hard for Charlize to land English-speaking roles because of her Afrikaner accent; but she persevered.
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Park Avenue Productions
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Her first speaking role was a supporting but significant part as a bombshell girlfriend in 1996’s “2 Days in the Valley.” She also landed a bit part on the Tom Hanks-directed “That Thing You Do” in 1996.
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She was on an upswing and Hollywood was beginning to take notice. In the years that followed “2 Days in the Valley,” she landed roles in “The Devil’s Advocate” (1997); “Woody Allen’s Celebrity” (1998), and a starring role in Disney’s remake of “Mighty Joe Young” (1998).
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In 1999, Charlize landed a string of roles in even more notable films, including “The Astronaut’s Wife” opposite Johnny Depp, and “The Cider House Rules” with Tobey Maguire. In 2001: “Sweet November” (in which she re-teamed up with “The Devil’s Advocate’”s Keanu Reeves); and then “The Italian Job” with Mark Wahlberg.
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And things were only getting better …
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Monster/Newmarket Films
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In 2003, after starring in the sitcom “Arrested Development,” she did a 180 and landed the role of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in “Monster,” directed by Patty Jenkins. (Amazingly, even though the part was quite a demanding one, she also produced the film.) She won a Best Actress Golden Globe and an Oscar for her amazing performance.
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Despite being known for her nearly impeccable physique, Charlize put on close to 40 pounds for the film, and did so without pause.
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She credits her mother for her lack of vanity.
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“I’m so grateful that I was raised by a mother who really instilled in me that my moral compass and achievements all had to come from a real place that had nothing to do with my beauty or how I looked,” Charlize said. “That was very big for her.”
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North Country/Warner Brothers Entertainment
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In 2005, a slimmed-down Charlize starred in “North Country” with Sissy Spacek and Frances McDormand — a drama based on the first major successful sexual harassment case in the United States. Her performance earned her Golden Globe and Oscar nominations.
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It’s hard to believe that Charlize is at the top of her acting game but still finds time to give back. While she’s super-busy with her career, she’s just as involved with the social causes — from women’s rights to AIDS awareness to pro choice to PETA to same-sex marriage, and more. She is also founder of the “Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project.”
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“[It's] about educating children and young people about the AIDS virus and staying safe,” she says. “Today, I see children ask brave questions in sex-education classes, which is heartening.”
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Charlize, who split with Irish actor Stuart Townsend in January 2010 after nearly nine years together, will do just about anything for charity — including making out with a chick.
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In 2010, she made out with a woman for a charitable cause for a whopping $140,000. (The kiss lasted a delicious 20 seconds!) (“My boyfriend [Stuart] is not here tonight,” she quipped.)
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Charlize smooches the lucky high bidder; Getty Images/Charley Gallay
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Snow White and the Huntsman/Universal Pictures
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These days, Charlize is challenging herself again creatively as the co-star of “Snow White and the Huntsman”, in which she plays evil stepmother Ravenna opposite Kristen Stewart.
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“I think the reason why I really wanted to do it was because I saw a lot of potential in finding the human within a character that’s become very iconic for just being one thing and that’s being evil,” she said. “I like that challenge.”
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She recently adopted an African-American baby boy, is overall content with how her life is unfolding.
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“I try not to be a prisoner to those kinds of thoughts or ideas of what I think my life should be or shouldn’t be,” she says. “That’s why I’ve never had a five-year plan. I always knew that I wanted to have children. I also never felt the biological clock ticking because I think I always knew that I wanted to adopt.”
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As if she’s not enough of a Wonder Woman already … Charlize has her own production company, Denver and Delilah, with projects ranging from films to reality TV. Her upcoming film, “Mad Max: Fury Road,” is currently in pre-production.
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