Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron was born on August 7, 1975, in rural Benoni, South Africa to co-owners of a road construction company, Charles and Gerda. At 16, Theron entered a Johannesburg modeling contest, which she won. She soon traveled to Italy, where she won the International New Model Today competition, and began a modeling career in earnest. After traveling to New York at the age of 18, she left high fashion to attempt a career in dance. Her studies with the Joffrey Ballet were curtailed by severe knee injuries, forcing her to abandon her first calling.

Theron decided to pursue acting instead, and moved to Los Angeles. There she began appearing in films in the mid-1990s, establishing herself with roles in The Cider House Rules and The Devil's Advocate. She went on to give an Oscar-winning performance as serial killer Eileen Wuornos in Monster, and well-reviewed performances in North Country and Young Adult.