Charlize Theron was born in Benoni, Transvaal Province, South Africa. She was born to co-owners of a construction company and spent most of her childhood tending to livestock on a farm outside of ... MORE 
Charlize Theron was born in Benoni, Transvaal Province, South Africa. She was born to co-owners of a construction company and spent most of her childhood tending to livestock on a farm outside of Johannesburg. When her mother recognized her passion for dance, she was sent to a Johannesburg boarding school to study dance. When Charlize was a teenager, her father became an abusive alcoholic. When he physically assaulted both Charlize and her mother, her mother was forced to shoot him in self-defense. When Charlize was 16, she entered a modeling contest in Johannesburg and won. After this she was flown to Italy where she won the International New Model Today competition. When she was18, she moved to New York to continue a career in dance but had to forfeit this dream when she accrued several injuries. After a dream deferred, she moved to Los Angeles where she decided to pursue acting. Charlize had a difficult time landing acting roles because of her heavy South African accent. There she was discovered by Hollywood manager John Crosby, and was signed within months. She appeared in Children of the Corn III, 2 Days in the Valley, and That Thing You Do! Her Hollywood presence heightened when she was cast in The Devil’s Advocate, Celebrity, and the Disney remake of Mighty Joe Young. Charlize is also known for her philanthropic efforts. She was honored by the United Nations when she became the organization's tenth messenger of peace. HIDE 
