Charlize Theron Biography:

Charlize Theron grew up on a farm outside Benoni, South Africa, as the only child. She got an education as a ballet dancer and has danced both The Swan Lake and the Nutcracker Suite. There wasn't much for a young actress or dancer to do in South Africa, so she soon travelled to Europe and USA where she got job at the Joffrey Ballet in New York. She was also able to work as a photo model. However, an injured knee put a halt to her dancing career.

At the age of 18 her mother made her go to Los Angeles to try a career in the movie industry. She came to LA without knowing anyone in the city but after two weeks when she was standing in line on Hollywood Boulevard an agent gave her his card. After eight months in LA she got her first part in 2 Days in the Valley. Starring with James Spader, Eric Stoltz, and Jeff Daniels, it was the bizarre story of what happens to the lives of ten people in the San Fernando Valley who cross paths over 48 hours. Theron played Helga, Spader's partner and love interest. Even among an ensemble cast, Theron gave a standout performance.

In early 1997, Theron starred in Jonathan Lynn's Trial and Error opposite Michael Richards and Jeff Daniels. In the fall of the same -year, she appeared on the big screen once again co-Starring with Al Pacino and Keanu Reeves in the thriller, Devil's Advocate. Extraordinary talent was all Tom Hanks needed to see to cast Theron in his directorial debut, That Thing You Do (1996).

Theron has risen to the challenge of a variety of roles in a rather short period of time. This incredibly talented actress began her career as a model in her native South Africa. She worked extensively in fashion capitols such as Milan and Paris before coming to the U.S.

Audiences saw Theron star in Woody Allen's Celebrity for which she received rave reviews and Mighty Joe Young opposite Bill Paxton for Disney. In 1999 he starred opposite Johnny Depp in The Astronaut's Wife. Charlize played Candy Kendall in the widely acclaimed and Oscar-nominated The Cider House Rules, which was based on the novel by John Irving. The same year she starred in John Frankenheimer's -Reindeer Games with Ben Affleck. Next, Theron played Adelle in Robert Redford's The Legend of Bagger Vance with Will Smith and Matt Damon.

Her recent roles include 2000's Men of Honor with Robert DeNiro and Cuba Gooding, Jr., directed by George Tillman, Jr. In 2001, Theron played in The Yards, directed by James Grey (Little Odessa), the drama also stars Mark Wahlberg, Joaquin Phoenix, James Caan and Faye Dunaway. She also starred opposite Keaunu Reeves in Sweet November.

In 2002 Charlize was in the thriller Trapped opposite Kevin Bacon, Courtney Love, and fiancé Stuart Townsend. Later that year she appeared in Waking Up In Reno. In 2003 she was in The Husband I Bought.