Charlize Theron Bio

Charlize Theron Biography

Dynamic actress Charlize Theron was born on August 7, 1975, in Benoni, South Africa. Growing up on a farm near Johannesburg, Charlize spent her early years training to become a ballet dancer. However, when she was sixteen years old, Charlize was sent to Milan to become a model. The move was precipitated by the death of Charlize’s father, who had been shot by her mother in self-defense.

Feeling unchallenged by modeling, Charlize moved to New York City, where she resumed her initial pursuit of dancing and joined the Joffrey Ballet. After suffering a knee injury that impaired her dancing, Charlize decidnd to make the move to the opposite coast and try her hand at acting in Los Angeles. While in Los Angeles, Charlize had a fateful altercation at a bank, which would change the course of her career. When she became argumentative at the bank over their refusal to cash her check, Charlize caught the eye of a Hollywood agent who led her to her first acting gig. In 1994, Charlize appeared in horror film Children of the Corn III, which, although small, led to her next role in 2 Days in the Valley in 1996. The film was relatively unsuccessful, but did give Charlize the much-needed exposure that led to her first leading role, playing Keanu Reeves's wife in The Devil's Advocate in 1997. The following year, Charlize starred alongside a computerized gorilla in Mighty Joe Young (1998). She then gained credibility in Woody Allen’s Celebrity also in 1998, alongside such established stars as Winona Ryder and Leonardo DiCaprio. In 199,, Charlize co-starred with Michael Caine and Tobey Maguire in the highly-acclaimed adaptation of John Irving's novel, The Cider House Rules.

Along with her professional success in the late 90s, Charlize had to contend with overexposure – literally. In May 1999, Playboy magazine published nude photos of a young Charlize taken during her early days in modeling. Charlize fought back by suing the photographer, Guido Argentini.

The new millennium saw Charlize starring in projects which were highly-anticipated but ultimately somewhat disappointing, including Reindeer Games in 2000, Robert Redford's The Legend of Bagger Vance in 2000, Sweet November in 2001, and The Curse of the Jade Scorpion also in 2001. By 2003, Charlize had proved herself a force to be reckoned with when she took on the gritty role of real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster. Charlize’s fierce performance combined with her willingness to shed her polished persona in order to portray a hardened murderer earned her an Academy award and the respect of her peers.

2005 was a mixed year for Charlize. She appeared in an adaptation of the animated series Aeon Flux, which became a box-office flop. She also graced the screen in the docudrama North Country, which was well-received by critics and earned her a second Academy award nomination. Also in 2005, Charlize demonstrated her flair for comedy when she played secretly simple Rita in the third season of FOX's critically acclaimed (but ultimately canceled) sitcom, Arrested Development.

From January 1998 to July 2001, Charlize was romantically linked to Third Eye Blind’s lead singer, Stephan Jenkins. She currently lives in Los Angeles with long-time partner, Stuart Townsend, with whom she shared the screen in Head in the Clouds (2004) as well as Trapped (2002). In October 2005, the paparazzi received a surprise after closing in on a wedding ceremony which they mistakenly thought to be Charlize’s. The ceremony was actually for her mother, Gerda’s wedding.

Charlize lends her voice to support various causes, including women’s rights and animal rights.

In 2006, Charlize was the recipient of the Vanguard Award at the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Media Awards, for her work in increasing visibility and understanding in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.

YUDDY




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Facts:

  • Charlize Theron - was a guest on Saturday Night Live
  • Charlize Theron - Appeared with Donald Sutherland in The Italian Job
  • Charlize Theron - Appeared with Jason Statham in The Italian Job
  • Charlize Theron - Appeared with Seth Green in The Italian Job
  • Charlize Theron - Appeared with Mos Def in The Italian Job
  • Charlize Theron - Appeared with Edward Norton in The Italian Job
  • Charlize Theron - Appeared with Fausto Callegarini in The Italian Job
  • Charlize Theron - Appeared with Stefano Petronelli in The Italian Job
  • Charlize Theron - Appeared with Fabio Scarpa in The Italian Job