Charlize Theron
Theron's first language is Afrikaans. She is also fluent in English and speaks some Xhosa, as well as having varying levels of fluency in around thirty other African languages and dialects, learned from neighbors and employees on her parents' farm.
In the United States, both in her films and while being interviewed, etc., Theron speaks with a typical American accent and style of speech, leading most people to assume she is American.
"Theron" is a French surname pronounced in Afrikaans as "Tronn," although she has said that she prefers the pronunciation "Thrown." The pronunciation commonly used in the United States involves two syllables, with stress on the first.
Theron grew up as the only child on her parents' farm near Johannesburg (Benoni). At the age of thirteen, Charlize was sent to boarding school and began her studies at the National School Of The Arts in Johannesburg.
At fifteen, Theron witnessed the death of her father, an abusive alcoholic; her mother shot him in self-defense when he attacked her. No charges were pressed.
At the age of 16, Theron traveled to Milan, Italy, on a one-year modeling contract, after winning a local competition. Her contract ended while she was in New York City, and she decided to remain there, attending the Joffrey Ballet School, where she trained as a ballet dancer. A knee injury closed this career path when she was 18.
Unable to dance, she bought a ticket to Los Angeles. 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. She followed this with larger roles in widely released Hollywood films, and her career skyrocketed in the late 1990s, with box office successes like The Devil's Advocate, The Cider House Rules, and Mighty Joe Young.
The May 1999 issue of Playboy published nude photos of Theron, taken during the early years of her modeling career. Claiming they had been "for private use", Theron ended up suing photographer Guido Argentini.
After appearing in a few notable films, Theron starred as serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the film Monster (2003). Film critic Roger Ebert called it "one of the greatest performances in the history of the cinema" , for which Theron won the Best Actress Oscar at the 76th Academy Awards in February 2004, as well as the SAG Award and the Golden Globe Award. She is the first South African to win an Oscar for Best Actress.
Google Blog Search Results: 1,143,654 results for charlize theron - showing 1 through 10
Charlize Theron W Magazine June 2008 Cover Photo
Academy Award-winning actress Charlize Theron is featured on the June 2008 cover of W Magazine.
Charlize Theron Says Audiences Can?t Get Enough Fluff
Charlize Theron dazzles in the cover of June?s W magazine. Photographed by Craig McDean, the 32-year-old beauty opens up about how she feels that modern audiences are obsessed with ?fluff.? Naturally, she is bitter because her last ...
Charlize Theron at the Christian Dior Cruise 2009 Collection
Charlize Theron at the Christian Dior Cruise 2009 Collection in NC may 12, 2008.
CHARLIZE THERON: Christian Dior Cruise 2009 Collection - Arrivals ...
"NEW YORK - MAY 12: Actress Charlize Theron attends the Christian Dior Cruise 2009 Collection at Gustavino's in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images) "-credit:getty images.
Charlize Theron On The Cover Of W Magazine!
Charlize Photographed by Craig McDean graces the June cover of W magazine looking flawless and stunning!
