Charlize Theron Biography

Charlize Theron
extracted from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, distributed under the GNU Free Documentation License

Charlize Theron

Theron at the Meteor Ireland Music Awards 2008
Born August 7, 1975 (1975-08-07) (age 33)1
Benoni, South Africa
Occupation actress, producer
Years active 1995 - present
Domestic partner(s) Stephan Jenkins (1998-2001)
Stuart Townsend (2001-)
Official website

Charlize Theron (IPA: ʃɑ:rˈliːz ˈθɛɹən; born August 7, 1975),1 is an Academy Award-winning South African-American actress, film producer and former fashion model. She rose to fame in the late 1990s following her roles in 2 Days in the Valley, Mighty Joe Young, The Devil's Advocate, and The Cider House Rules. She received critical acclaim for her portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the film Monster, for which she won an Academy Award for Best Actress. She received another Academy award nomination for her performance in North Country. She was named Esquire's Sexiest Woman Alive in 2007.2 In late 2008 she was asked to be a UN messenger of peace by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.3

Contents

Acting career

At the age of 16, Theron traveled to Milan, Italy, on a one-year modeling contract, after winning a local competition. She went to New York with Pauline's Model Management. She decided to remain after her contract ended, attending the Joffrey Ballet School, where she trained as a ballet dancer. A knee injury closed this career path when Theron was 19.45

Unable to dance, Theron flew to Los Angeles on a one-way ticket her mother bought her.4 During her early months there, she went to a bank to cash a check her mother had sent her to help with the rent. When the teller refused to cash it, Theron immediately started into a shouting match with her. Afterwards, a talent agent in line behind her handed her his business card and subsequently introduced her to some casting agents and also an acting school.67 She later fired him as her manager after he allegedly kept sending her scripts for films similar to Showgirls and Species.8

After eight months in the city, she was cast in her first film part, a non-speaking role in the direct-to-video film Children of the Corn III (1995). Larger roles in widely released Hollywood films followed, and her career skyrocketed in the late 1990s with box office successes like The Devil's Advocate (1997), Mighty Joe Young (1998), and The Cider House Rules (1999).

After appearing in a few notable films, Theron starred as the serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster (2003). Film critic Roger Ebert called it "one of the greatest performances in the history of the cinema".9 For this role, Theron won the Academy Award for Best Actress at the 76th Academy Awards in February 2004,10 as well as the SAG Award and the Golden Globe Award.11 She is the first South African to win an Oscar for Best Actress.12 The Oscar win pushed her to The Hollywood Reporter's 2006 list of highest-paid actresses in Hollywood; earning $10,000,000 for both her subsequent films, North Country and Æon Flux, she ranked seventh, behind Halle Berry, Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, Renée Zellweger, Reese Witherspoon, and Nicole Kidman.13

Theron in 2005

On September 30, 2005, Theron received her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.12 In the same year, she starred in the financially unsuccessful science fiction thriller Æon Flux,14. Additionally, Theron received Best Actress Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for her lead performance in the drama North Country.1011 Ms. magazine also honored her for this performance with a feature article in its Fall 2005 issue.

In 2005, Theron portrayed Rita, Michael Bluth's (Jason Bateman) love interest, on the third season of FOX's critically-acclaimed television series Arrested Development.15 She also received Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for her role of Britt Ekland in the 2004 HBO movie The Life and Death of Peter Sellers.16

In 2008, Theron was named the Hasty Pudding Theatricals Woman of the Year.17

On November 10, 2008, TV Guide reported that Theron will star in the film adaptation of The Danish Girl alongside Nicole Kidman. Theron will play Greta Wegener, wife of Elinar Wegener, the world's first post-op transsexual who will be portrayed by Kidman. 18

Personal life

Theron was born in Benoni, South Africa, the daughter and only child of Charles and Gerda Theron, and is of German and French descent.citation needed Theron's first language is Afrikaans; she is fluent in English and speaks some Zulu. "Theron" is an Occitan surname (originally spelled Théron) pronounced in Afrikaans as "Tronn", although she has said that she prefers the pronunciation "Thrown".19

Theron grew up on her parents' farm near Johannesburg (Benoni). She attended Putfontein Primary School (Laerskool Putfontein). At the age of 13, Theron was sent to boarding school and began her studies at the National School Of The Arts in Johannesburg. At 15, Theron witnessed the death of her father, an abusive alcoholic; Gerda shot him in self-defense when he attacked her. The police pressed no charges against her.20

From January 1998 to July 2001, Theron dated the lead singer of Third Eye Blind, Stephan Jenkins. Jenkins ended the relationship after failing to take her marriage requests seriously.21

Theron resides in Los Angeles, in the home of late 1930s actress Helen Twelvetreescitation needed, with her long-time boyfriend Stuart Townsend, with whom she starred in the 2004 film Head in the Clouds, as well as in the 2002 film Trapped and uncredited 2005 Æon Flux. She, like Sarah Silverman,22 and Brad Pitt,23 has said that she will not marry until same-sex couples are able to have their marriages recognized.24 Townsend recently stated he considers himself and Theron to be husband and wife. "We didn't have a ceremony," he said. "I don't need a certificate or the state or the church to say otherwise. So no there's no big official story on a wedding, but we are married... I consider her my wife and she considers me her husband".25

While filming Æon Flux in Berlin, Germany, Theron had suffered a herniated disc in her neck, which occurred as a result of her suffering a fall while filming a series of back handsprings. This required her to wear a neck collar for a month.26

Theron became a naturalized citizen of the United States in May 2007.27

Promotional deals

Having signed a deal with John Galliano in 2004, Theron replaced Estonian model Tiiu Kuik as the spokeswoman in the J'ADORE advertisements by Christian Dior.28 From October 2005 to December 2006, Theron earned $3,000,000 for the use of her image in a worldwide print media advertising campaign for Raymond Weil watches.29 In February 2006, she and her loan-out corporation were sued by Weil for breach of contract.2930

Activism

Theron is involved in women's rights organizations, and marched for abortion rights.31 Theron is a supporter of animal rights and active member of PETA. She recently appeared in a PETA ad for their anti-fur campaign.32

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
1995 Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest Young Woman Uncredited
1996 2 Days in the Valley Helga Svelgen
That Thing You Do! Tina Powers
1997 Trial and Error Billie Tyler
The Devil's Advocate Mary Ann Lomax
1998 Celebrity Supermodel
Mighty Joe Young Jill Young
1999 The Astronaut's Wife Jillian Armacost
The Cider House Rules Candy Kendall Nominated - Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
2000 Reindeer Games Ashley Mercer
The Yards Erica Stoltz
The Legend of Bagger Vance Adele Invergordon
Men of Honor Gwen Sunday
2001 Sweet November Sara Deever
The Curse of the Jade Scorpion Laura Kensington
15 Minutes Rose Heam
2002 Trapped Karen Jennings
Waking Up in Reno Candy Kirkendall
2003 The Italian Job Stella Bridger
Monster Aileen Wuornos Academy Award for Best Actress
Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role - Motion Picture
Year Film Role Notes
2004 The Life and Death of Peter Sellers Britt Ekland Nominated - Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Nominated - Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie
Head in the Clouds Gilda Bessé
2005 North Country Josey Aimes Nominated - Academy Award for Best Actress
Nominated - Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama
Nominated - Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role - Motion Picture
Æon Flux Æon Flux
2007 In the Valley of Elah Det. Emily Sanders
2008 Sleepwalking Joleen Also producer
Hancock Mary Embrey
Battle in Seattle Ella Longtime partner Stuart Townsend directing
The Burning Plain Sylvia Awaiting release
The Road Wife Post-production
2009 The Brazilian Job Stella Bridger Announced

Awards and other recognition

Awards and achievements
Academy Award
Preceded by
Nicole Kidman
for The Hours		 Best Actress
2003
for Monster		 Succeeded by
Hilary Swank
for Million Dollar Baby
Golden Globe Award
Preceded by
Nicole Kidman
for The Hours		 Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama
for Monster
2004		 Succeeded by
Hilary Swank
for Million Dollar Baby
Berlin Film Festival
Preceded by
Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep
and Julianne Moore for The Hours		 Silver Bear for Best Actress
2004
for Monster
(tied with Catalina Sandino Moreno for Maria full of Grace)		 Succeeded by
Julia Jentsch
for Sophie Scholl - The Final Days
GLAAD Media Awards
Preceded by
Liza Minnelli		 Vanguard Award
2006		 Succeeded by
Jennifer Aniston
Hasty Pudding Theatricals
Preceded by
Scarlett Johansson		 Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year
2008		 Succeeded by
'

In May 2006, Maxim named Theron #25 in its annual "Hot 100" issue.33 In October 2007, Esquire named Theron The Sexiest Woman Alive in its annual issue.34

References

  1. ^ a b "Charlize Theron's 'Monster' Role". CBS News (2004-01-09). Retrieved on 2008-09-20.
  2. ^ Charlize Theron: Sexiest Woman Alive | Article from AP Online | HighBeam Research
  3. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7730770.stm
  4. ^ a b Lynn Hirschberg (Spring 2008). "Charlize Angel" (Flash). New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  5. ^ Charlotte Higgins (2006-08-24). "Play It Tough". Guardian. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  6. ^ Sara Davidson (October 2005). "Charlize Theron Interview". Reader's Digest. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  7. ^ Jack Foley. "In The Valley of Elah - Charlize Theron interview". indielondon.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  8. ^ Gabriel Snyder (June 2008). "Charlize". W (magazine). Retrieved on 2008-05-23.
  9. ^ Ebert, Roger (2004-01-01). "Reviews: Monster". Chicago Sun-Times.
  10. ^ a b "Academy Awards Database: Charlize Theron". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved on 2008-01-30.
  11. ^ a b "Golden Globe Award Database: Charlize Theron". Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Retrieved on 2008-01-30.
  12. ^ a b "Hollywood honours actress Theron", BBC NEWS (2005-09-30). 
  13. ^ Gardner, Chris (2006-11-30). "Kidman tops list of female movie salaries", The Hollywood Reporter. 
  14. ^ IMDB Business Data
  15. ^ Charlize Theron gets ‘Arrested’ this season - TV comedy - MSNBC.com
  16. ^ Charlize Theron - Awards
  17. ^ Hasty Pudding To Honor Walken, Theron from the Harvard Crimson
  18. ^ Nicole Kidman to Star as Transsexual, Marrying Charlize Theron in New Film" TV Guide. November 10, 2008. Retrieved on November 12, 2008.
  19. ^ Aclasscelebs.com interview
  20. ^ "Charlize Theron Biography". The Biography Channel. Retrieved on 2008-01-16.
  21. ^ "Charlize Theron". FamousWhy.com (2008-05-12).
  22. ^ Lindsay Powers (2008-07-14). "Jimmy Kimmel and Sarah Silverman Split After Five Years". US Weekly. Retrieved on 2008-09-24.
  23. ^ "Opposition to same-sex marriage ban grows in California", International Business Times (2008-09-18). Retrieved on 24 September 2004. 
  24. ^ Stephen M. Silverman (2006-04-10). "GLAAD Honors Charlize Theron". People. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  25. ^ Chi, Paul (2007-09-13). "Stuart Townsend Calls Charlize Theron His Wife", People. 
  26. ^ Rebecca Murray. "Charlize Theron Talks About Starring in "Aeon Flux"". About.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  27. ^ Judy Rosen (2008-03-12). "Charlize Theron: Glad To Be A U.S. Citizen". CBS News. Retrieved on 2008-08-17.
  28. ^ "Dior signs Charlize Theron", CNN (2004-08-13). 
  29. ^ a b Charlize Theron's Screen Gems from The Smoking Gun
  30. ^ "Actress Charlize Theron Sued by Swiss Watchmaker". Associated Press, February 6, 2007.
  31. ^ "Hillary takes on Bush", Sydney Morning Herald (2004-04-26). 
  32. ^ "Charlize Theron Dogs the Fur Trade". People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Retrieved on 2008-01-16.
  33. ^ Maxim Online
  34. ^ Charlize Theron Is the Sexiest Woman Alive 2007 from Esquire magazine

External links

Sister project Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Charlize Theron
Sister project Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Charlize Theron
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Academy Award for Best Actress

Halle Berry (2001) · Nicole Kidman (2002) · Charlize Theron (2003) · Hilary Swank (2004) · Reese Witherspoon (2005) · Helen Mirren (2006) · Marion Cotillard (2007)

Complete list · (1928–1940) · (1941–1960) · (1961–1980) · (1981–2000) · (2001-present)
Persondata
NAME Theron, Charlize
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Actress, model
DATE OF BIRTH August 7, 1975
PLACE OF BIRTH Benoni, South Africa
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH