Charlize Theron

August 7, 2025

Fast Facts
Background
Career Timeline
Why We Love
Surprising Facts
FAQs

Charlize Theron, born August 7, 1975, landed her first acting role in the horror film “Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest” in 1995. Her acting career took a massive turn for good when she starred in “The Devil’s Advocate” in 1997 alongside Al Pacino and Keanu Reeves. She is currently one of the world’s highest-paid actresses and is a bold women’s rights activist, among several other causes. This talented beauty deserves all the love she can get on her special day, and this is our contribution to celebrating her.

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Charlize Theron

Birth date:

August 7, 1975

Age:

Zodiac Sign:

Leo

Height:

5' 10"

Relationship Status:

Single

Net Worth:

$160 million

Background

Born to Gerda and Charles Theron in Benoni in Gauteng Province, South Africa, Charlize Theron didn’t come to this world with a silver spoon. Her parents worked in a construction company and owned the farm she grew up on. She had a bit of a rough childhood and didn’t fit in too well at school. Theron was frequently sick, and her medication damaged her teeth, restricting their growth till she turned 10. She was sent to boarding school when she turned 13, and she began school at the National School of the Arts in Johannesburg. Her father, Charles, was an alcoholic and he often went into drunken fits, going so far as to shoot at his wife and daughter on June 21, 1991. Gerda, his wife, grabbed her own gun and killed him. The act was legally accepted as self-defense, so there was no crime for it. Needless to say, these growing conditions weren’t the best for young Theron.

After she won a one-year modeling contract at a competition at 16, Theron moved with her mother to Italy and modeled. She then moved to New York to learn ballet but suffered a knee injury that closed that door. A couple of years later, she met talent agent John Crosby, who introduced her to an acting school. She played her first speaking role as Helga Svelgen in “2 Days in the Valley” in 1996, and later on featured in larger roles like “The Devil’s Advocate” and “The Cider House Rules” in 1997 and 1999 respectively. She has won a multitude of awards, including the Academy Award for Best Actress in February 2004, and the Golden Globe Award.

Theron is a women’s rights activist, and she owns her own charity called the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (C.T.A.O.P.), which was birthed in 2007 in a bid to support African youths in combating H.I.V./AIDS. Shortly after establishing her charity, she was asked to be a U.N. Messenger of Peace. She has two children, adopted in 2012 and 2015 respectively. Theron has been in public relationships with several actors and other celebrities, including Irish actor Stuart Townsend, and American actor Sean Penn. She is a successful, unmarried citizen of the United States and South Africa.

Career timeline

1991

Theron Models Her Way Through Europe

After winning a modeling contract at a competition, she moves with her mom to Italy and models for a year.

1997

A Major Breakthrough

Theron stars alongside Keanu Reeves and Al Pacino in the horror movie, “The Devil’s Advocate,” which is acclaimed to be one film that brought her into the spotlight.

2003

She Lands Her First Successful Leading Role

Theron renders a gripping portrayal of Aileen Wuornos, a serial killer in “Monster,” displaying just how talented an actress she is.

2004

The Academy Award for Best Actress

She is awarded at the 76th Academy Awards for her role in “Monster” (2003).

2007

Theron Establishes C.T.A.O.P.

She creates the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (C.T.A.O.P.) to support organizations that address the elements associated with H.I.V./AIDS in South Africa.

2011

Nominee for Golden Globe Award

She is nominated for the Golden Globe Award following her performance in the black comedy “Young Adult,” which was described by Richard Roeper as “one of the most impressive performances of the year.”

2018

Theron becomes Brand Ambassador for Breitling

She joins Daniel Wu, Brad Pitt, and Adam Driver as ambassadors for the luxury watchmaking company in Switzerland.

Why We Love Charlize Theron

She hasn’t forgotten her roots
Despite becoming an American citizen and achieving so much, Theron is still a South African citizen and is continually giving to her community. Her charity, C.T.A.O.P., is over a decade old and is still going strong.
She shows intense dedication to her movies
Theron has always been particular about performing her best, and the story is the same in front of the camera. Whether it’s shaving her eyebrows, or gaining weight to resemble a character, she takes each story as her own to give viewers a vivid understanding of her character.
She is good-natured
Theron is a very down-to-earth and funny person. Lots of people who have worked with her in the past have several positive comments to give about her.

5 Surprising Facts

Theron learned English from watching T.V.
After realizing that her Afrikaner accent was a hindrance to her landing speaking roles, she watched hours of television to learn proper American inflections.
She suffered several injuries while filming
Theron has had more injuries on sets that are not action films, than on sets where she is required to perform stunts.
She cried in front of Nelson Mandela
A huge party was thrown in her honor after she won the Oscar, and when the then-president Nelson Mandela hugged and thanked her, she burst into tears.
She had to let go
Theron intended to pursue her dream of becoming a ballerina but had to let it go after she suffered injuries that damaged her knees.
She is a single parent
After her relationship with actor Stuart Townsend came to an end, she adopted Jackson, and then August, three years later.