Charlize Theron is an American actor, activist, film producer and director, model and spokesperson. Born on August 7, 1975 in South Africa, Theron became a United States citizen in 2007. Shortly after moving to New York with mother and under a contract for a modeling agency, she enrolled in the Joffery Ballet School, but left due to a knee injury.
First discovered in a bank, Charlize Theron’s first movie role was a non-speaking part in 1995’s The Children Of The Corn. Then followed such films as Mighty Joe Young (1998), The Cider House Rules (1999), The Legend Of Bagger Vance (2000), The Italian Job (2003), Snow White And The Huntsman (2012) and The Fate Of The Fury (2017). It was in the 2003 film, Monster, that Charlize Theron had her biggest professional success. Portraying serial killer, Aileen Wuornos, Charlize set aside her glamorous image and wowed audiences with her acting talents alone. It was for this role that she won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and a SAG.
In addition to acting, she produces and directs both films and TV. In 2006, Charlize Theron produced the documentary, East of Havana, following 3 young Cuban rappers and their experiences in their homeland. She was also the spokes person for J’adore, a fragrance by Christian Dior.
Charlize Theron is very much an activist in the causes she cares about. Her foundation, The Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Program, helps to fight Aids and HIV in African young people. In 2008, she was named the UN Messenger of Peace for her role of bringing awareness to, and preventing, violence against women and children. Theron is also active in women’s rights, gay rights, animal rights, the PETA organization and with pro-choice groups.
Charlize Theron is single and has two children.
