Charlize Theron biography, kids, boyfriend, net worth, age, awards, height 2025

Biography of Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron is a South African-born supermodel and Hollywood powerhouse who's collected major awards including a Golden Globe and an Oscar for her transformative role in "Monster."

Childhood

Charlize Theron was born in Benoni, South Africa on August 7, 1975. Her parents, Gerda Maritz and Charles Jacobus Theron, owned a construction company and ran their own farm.

The future star spent her childhood on her parents' farm in Benoni, where she loved playing outdoors and her best friend was a goat named Bok.

She completed primary school in neighboring Johannesburg. Local tribal members worked on the farm, and through her interactions with them, young Charlize picked up around 26 African dialects. Along with her native Afrikaans, Charlize became fluent in English by watching TV shows, though she kept a noticeable accent.

Charlize Theron Speaks Afrikaans

In 1981, six-year-old Charlize was enrolled in ballet classes, and in 1988 she was sent to a boarding school at the National School of Arts.

In 1990, tragedy struck the Theron family when Charlize lost her father—a chronic alcoholic who was shot by his own wife. The shooting was ruled self-defense under the circumstances, and police didn't press charges against her mother.

Beginning of Modeling Career

At 16, Charlize Theron entered a local modeling contest on her mother's advice and won. Soon after, she won an international modeling contest in Positano, Italy.

Young model Charlize Theron conquered glossy covers worldwide

Following her win, she signed a one-year contract with a Milan modeling agency. During that year, she traveled across Europe for shows before heading to New York, where she decided to settle permanently.

She dreamed of a ballet career and enrolled at the Joffrey Ballet School, modeling in her spare time. But Theron had to abandon her dancing dreams when she suffered a knee injury at 19. "I thought it was the end of the world, dance was my passion. I thought I would have to return to South Africa and work in a supermarket for the rest of my life," the actress admitted.

Charlize Theron might not have become an actress if not for an ankle injury

Instead of returning home, she headed to Miami and continued modeling. Her mother suggested Charlize Theron try her luck in Hollywood. She took the advice and flew to Los Angeles. Money was desperately tight, and for months, Theron struggled in a cheap motel.

Her life changed dramatically in 1996 when she tried to cash a $500 check from her mother at the bank. When the cashier refused to cash the money sent from South Africa, Theron made a scene. John Crosby, a well-known Hollywood agent, witnessed it. He noticed her and gave her his business card. Days later, Crosby brought her to an acting agency, then to acting school, where they helped her lose her South African accent.

Film Debut

Just eight months after moving to Los Angeles, Charlize Theron scored her first role—though it was silent. She appeared in a three-second scene in "Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest". Next came a role in the pilot episode of "Hollywood Confidential", but when the pilot tanked, the project got axed.

Charlize Theron's first film role

Charlize Theron's first real breakthrough came with John Herzfeld's crime drama "2 Days in the Valley", where she played the girlfriend of one of the main characters. Another supporting role awaited her in Tom Hanks' comedy "That Thing You Do!". Fun fact: as a kid, Charlize had a major crush on the actor after watching "Splash".

In 1997, she was offered a role in "The Devil's Advocate". This marked the actress's first truly major role—and it came at a cost. Charlize flew to New York multiple times for auditions, all on her own dime. Charlize performed on par with the film's main actors - Al Pacino and Keanu Reeves.

Her next role in Woody Allen's "Celebrity" demanded total commitment. She transformed into a supermodel with an unusual condition—experiencing orgasm from the slightest touch.

Later she starred in the film "Mighty Joe Young" from Walt Disney Studios. The film bombed at the box office, but critics praised Charlize's performance, saying the young actress literally saved the movie from disaster.

Charlize Theron's participation saved even bad films

In 1999, the actress appeared in "The Astronaut's Wife" alongside Johnny Depp. From there, Charlize Theron's filmography expanded with acclaimed films like Lasse Hallström's "The Cider House Rules", where her character started a romance with Toby Maguire's character, the movies "Reindeer Games" with Ben Affleck, "The Yards" with Mark Wahlberg, "The Legend of Bagger Vance" with Will Smith, and the epic melodrama "Sweet November" with her old acquaintance Keanu Reeves.

Charlize Theron - Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1999)

While "Sweet November" got decent reviews, Charlize was "honored" with a Golden Raspberry anti-award for her performance.

Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron - Sweet November Interview (2001)

Career Peak: Monster and Oscar

In 2003, Charlize Theron landed the lead role in "Monster," a film based on true events where she would transform into serial killer Aileen Wuornos. To fully immerse herself in the role, she studied the criminal's case extensively, gained 22 pounds, wore contact lenses that made her eyes dull and pale, and let makeup artists transform her beauty into a terrifying monster.

For the movie 'Monster,' Charlize Theron gained 22 pounds

In 2004, the film earned numerous prestigious awards, winning Charlize the Oscar and Golden Globe, plus a BAFTA. In 2005, her star was added to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 2006 Forbes named her the highest-paid actress in America.

Charlize Theron as serial killer Aileen Wuornos

Following her Oscar win, Charlize Theron appeared in the critically acclaimed series "Arrested Development" and box office hits "North Country" and "Aeon Flux." On the "Aeon Flux" set, she suffered a serious fall that injured her cervical vertebrae, forcing her into a 2-year hiatus. Though Theron recovered relatively quickly, she endured severe neck pain for another 8 years.

In 2008, Charlize Theron starred in "Hancock" alongside Will Smith, which grossed almost $400 million worldwide.

Charlize Theron winning Best Actress for Monster (2004)

In 2012, Charlize revealed her dark side, playing the villainous Queen Ravenna in "Snow White and the Huntsman." Her evil queen faced off against Kristen Stewart's Snow White, with Chris Hemsworth as the huntsman vying for the princess's heart.

Alongside her acting career, Charlize Theron continued modeling, walking in John Galliano shows and starring in campaigns for Dior, Raymond Weil, and Uniqlo.

Charlize theron - Anuncio J'adore- Dior - 2011

In 2015, the fourth installment of the post-apocalyptic action franchise "Mad Max: Fury Road" premiered. The visually stunning film gave Charlize Theron's career a major boost. The actress appeared on screen completely transformed: as the fierce, bald warrior Furiosa, fighting alongside Tom Hardy's character.

Charlize Theron as Furiosa ('Mad Max: Fury Road')

In April 2016, the sequel to "Snow White and the Huntsman" was released; Charlize Theron once again played Queen Ravenna. During this period, the actress was filming "The Last Face" with longtime friend Sean Penn, starring alongside Javier Bardem. The film, about a charity director providing humanitarian aid in Africa, was a passion project for Charlize.

After audiences cheered Charlize Theron's badass turn in 2017's "Atomic Blonde," she followed up with two very different films in 2018. First up was the dark comedy "Tully," where Charlize played an exhausted mom whose husband hires a night nanny (Mackenzie Davis). The stunning actress was barely recognizable as this worn-out, exhausted woman – Charlize had to gain serious weight for the role. Since the actress normally sticks to healthy eating, the junk food didn't just change her body – it sent her into a depression.

To shoot in 'Tully,' Charlize Theron had to gain weight

Her second 2018 film was the crime comedy "Gringo," co-starring Joel Edgerton and Amanda Seyfried. She also voiced Morticia Addams in 2019's animated "The Addams Family" and signed on for an "Atomic Blonde" sequel.

Theron also joined the "Fast and Furious" franchise as villain Cipher, the ruthless beauty who appeared in parts 8, 9, and 10.

2019 brought the biographical drama "Bombshell," based on real events. The film follows TV hosts Megyn Kelly and Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman) as they take on Fox News head Roger Ailes for sexual harassment. Charlize earned a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Megyn.

Charlize Theron in the movie 'Bombshell'

At first, Theron almost turned down the role. The real Megyn Kelly had been fired from NBC for defending blackface. But Theron ultimately realized the film was about something else entirely:

This is not a biographical film about Megyn, it's a film about women's rights, about what they've been through and how they've dealt with it. Once I understood that, it became easier for me.

In 2020, Theron kicked ass in Netflix's action film "The Old Guard."

Charlize Theron's Personal Life

In 1997, Charlize Theron was dating Third Eye Blind's lead singer Stephen Jenkins, but their five-year romance came to an end in 2002.

In 2002, on the set of the film "Trapped", the actress met Stuart Townsend. The couple was considered one of Hollywood's strongest for several years, but their relationship ended in January 2010. According to friends close to the actress, "they became more like brother and sister, and Charlize was the one who decided to end things."

Charlize Theron and Stuart Townsend dated for 8 years

In 2014, Charlize Theron briefly dated Sean Penn; their romance was passionate but short-lived, ending in summer 2015.

Charlize Theron with Sean Penn and her son Jackson

While Theron doesn't have biological children, she adopted a son named Jackson from Africa in 2012, and shortly after her split with Sean Penn, she adopted a daughter named Augusta.

Charlize Theron with her daughter Augusta

In 2023, Theron started dating model Alex Dimitrijevic.

Beyond her acting talents, Charlize Theron is a prominent activist who's long identified as a feminist, championed women's reproductive rights, actively supported PETA's animal rights campaigns, and advocated for marriage equality.

Hard to believe, but the actress turned 40 in 2015

Charlize Theron Now

In 2022, Charlize Theron became a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She played Clea, the Dark Dimension princess and major "Doctor Strange" comics character, in the blockbuster "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness." Her Marvel debut was kept under wraps until the film's premiere. Theron admitted she'd never been into superhero comics, but after friends convinced her to binge-watch the Marvel films, she completely changed her tune.

Charlize Theron and Benedict Cumberbatch

Charlize Theron: latest news and articles

10 years ago, the movie `Mad Max: Fury Road` was released. Is it worth waiting for a sequel?

Patricia King

Charlize is beautiful! Now the scandal has come out with her, it never ceases to amaze. And to look like this at 45 is generally a skill.

2021-05-03 18:06:28
Eileen Briggs

A real woman with a difficult fate. Charlize is wonderful!

2021-04-25 22:17:12
Carlos Isaac Gonzales

Charlize Theron is great both as an actress and as an ideal woman, an example to many people. Only her upbringing methods leave questions of course... Well, there is about her son, whom she is raising as a daughter :)

2021-04-21 09:34:44
Jennifer Williams

I don`t understand why she starred in the Immortal Guard, the film is nothing at all, Netflix took off the bullshit.

2021-04-05 11:26:02
Christopher Cobb

I like Charlize, first of all, for her charisma and talent. Moreover, her roles are quite complex.

2021-02-28 15:00:27

Photos: Charlize Theron