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Charlize Theron was born in South
Africa in a small "dorp" named Benoni. She grew up as the only child on
her family's farm. Learned the some of her 28 languages from staff on this
family farm. Her parents also owned a road construction business at the
same time. At the age of 6, Charlize took up ballet and began to think of
going professional. She would soon take her dancing ability to higher
levels, going professional in the town of Johannesburg.
At 13, in Johannesburg, her parents enrolled her in a boarding school. At
a young age, Charlize lost her Father. This left her mother, Gerda, in
charge of the family's road-construction business. At the age of 16 she
took an offer to begin modelling in Milan, Italy, offered after winning a
local modeling contest. This, however, lasted for only a year when she
grew tired of being seen as "somebody beautiful who should not say a
word." On the last day of a modelling shoot in Manhattan, New York, she
decided she would not return to Italy. (Her U.S. citizenship is still
pending). She decided to return to her first love -- ballet. She began
dancing with the Joffrey school in New York. After completing such popular
shows as the Nutcracker Suite and Swan Lake, she suffered a knee injury
that ended her ballet dancing career at the young age of 18.
Without the ability to dance ballet, and nearly broke, Charlize bought a
one way ticket to Hollywood at the urging of her mother, Gerda. She
arrived in Fairfax, California where she set up shop in the Farmer's
Daughter Motel. It was in 1994 that she was "discovered." When an L.A.
bank teller refused to cash her out-of-town cheque because she did not
have an account at the bank, she threw "a little tantrum." This tantrum
was witnessed by a talent manager named John Crosby, who also represents
Rene Russo and John Hurt. He called this screaming, arm-waving
tantrum-thrower a "vision" and immediately asked her "I don't know what
you do, but if you're interested in acting, here's my card." Initially
skeptical of the card, she was informed by a friend that John Crosby was
legitimate. Of course, with no money or job, she was definitely interested
and set out to shed her South African accent. She began watching hours of
television and singing along to American songs on the radio. Soon after,
she acquired her first acting job -- 2 Days in the Valley. This was
followed by an audition for a new Tom Hanks movie, who raved upon the
completion of her audition, "She's got it! That girl is going to be
somebody." As her star rose, on December 19th of 1997, Charlize dumped the
agent that had brought her there abruptly, something she does not discuss
in public.
Charlize is presently dating the lead singer of the band Third Eye Blind,
Stephan Jenkins. This comes after a long turn at the single life following
a breakup with actor Craig Bierko (The Long Kiss Goodnight). She recently
found herself in the centre of a highly publicized controversy surrounding
an advertisement she did in her native South Africa. The campaign, an
anti-rape series done in an attempt to bring notice to the high incidence
of rape in South Africa, was met with complaints after it was felt the ad
was "anti-men" in general. |
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[On the revelation that
Charlize's mother shot and killed Charlize's father while he was in
a drunken rage. The shooting was ruled self-defense]: I was always
Mama's girl, and I always felt like her protector.
Women have conquered the world. And with everything we go through,
it's about time we had a female president. I don't think we're that
far away, but it should have happened already. I wouldn't be
surprised if Hillary Rodham Clinton runs - I really admire her.
I've always been very proud to be a South African and I've always
been very honest to people about that. And whatever I can do in my
power I promise you I will do. I don't think it's too much pressure.
I think it's our duty as citizens of this country. You don't have to
win an Oscar to do something good for your country. We all can do
that. If I can be an encouragement for that I'll be glad to be that.
I'm 50-50 on glamour stuff. I'd rather put on a pair of jeans and
get on my Harley and act like a guy.
I think of myself as a highly sexual creature. I have to use that. I
have no choice. I like it. I didn't grow up with a mother telling me
what was under my clothes was bad or evil.
[On the importance of the Toronto Film Festival for smaller films]:
If people, critics respond to the film there [Toronto Film
Festival], it starts a nice little wave of chat, which for a movie
like North Country (2005) is really important. It's one of those
films that travels by word of mouth.
[On marriage]: I'm happy for people who want to get married but it's
not my thing. I'm extremely happy in my relationship and I would
love to have kids.
[On accents]: At first I found it really hard using three different
English accents: South African, faking the American, faking the
accent required by the job. I decided to make it easier for myself
and just do one. I haven't lost my culture, just my accent. |
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The Brazilian Job (2008) ....
Stella Bridger
Tonight, He Comes (2008)
The Ice at the Bottom of the World (2008)
The Hurt Locker (2008) (pre-production)
Battle in Seattle (2007) (post-production) .... Ella
In the Valley of Elah (2007) (post-production) .... Det. Emily
Sanders
Ferris Wheel (2007) (post-production) .... Joleen
"Robot Chicken" .... Mother (1 episode, 2006)
- Book of Corrine (2006) TV Episode .... Mother
"Arrested Development" .... Rita (5 episodes, 2005)
- The Ocean Walker (2005) TV Episode .... Rita
- Mr. F (2005) TV Episode .... Rita
- Notapusy (2005) TV Episode .... Rita
- Forget Me Now (2005) TV Episode .... Rita
- For British Eyes Only (2005) TV Episode .... Rita
Æon Flux (2005) .... Æon Flux
Æon Flux (2005) (VG) (voice) .... Æon Flux
North Country (2005) .... Josey Aimes
Head in the Clouds (2004) .... Gilda Bessé
... aka Juegos de mujer (Spain)
The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004) .... Britt Ekland
Monster (2003) .... Aileen
The Italian Job (2003) .... Stella Bridger
... aka Braquage à l'italienne (France)
Waking Up in Reno (2002) .... Candy Kirkendall
Trapped (2002) .... Karen Jennings
... aka 24 Stunden Angst (Germany)
The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (2001) .... Laura Kensington
... aka Im Bann des Jade Skorpions (Germany)
15 Minutes (2001) .... Rose Hearn
... aka 15 Minuten Ruhm (Germany)
Sweet November (2001) .... Sara Deever
The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000) .... Adele Invergordon
Men of Honor (2000) .... Gwen Sunday
... aka Men of Honour (UK)
The Yards (2000) .... Erica Stoltz
Reindeer Games (2000) .... Ashley Mercer
... aka Deception (UK) (USA: working title)
The Cider House Rules (1999) .... Candy Kendall
The Astronaut's Wife (1999) .... Jillian Armacost
Mighty Joe Young (1998) .... Jill Young
... aka Mighty Joe (UK)
Celebrity (1998) .... Supermodel
The Devil's Advocate (1997) .... Mary Ann Lomax
... aka Devil's Advocate (USA: DVD box title)
... aka Im Auftrag des Teufels (Germany)
Trial and Error (1997) .... Billie Tyler
Hollywood Confidential (1997) (TV) .... Sally
That Thing You Do! (1996) .... Tina
2 Days in the Valley (1996) .... Helga Svelgen
Children of the Corn III (1995) (uncredited) .... Young Woman
... aka Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest |
