# Charlize Theron

> Charlize Theron born 7 August 1975 is a South African and American actress, film producer, and Oscar-winning humanitarian.

Business profile published by Townpress Newspaper at https://townpress.co.za/people/?bb_profile=charlize-theron. Last updated 2026-09-13.

## At a glance

- Role: Founder, Actress & Film Producer
- Company: Secret Menu (formerly Denver & Delilah Productions)
- Sector: Media Production
- Ownership: Private
- Born: 7 August 1975, Benoni, Gauteng, South Africa
- Based: Los Angeles, California, United States
- Education: The National School of the Arts, Johannesburg
- Est. net worth: $200m (est.)

## Biography

Born and raised on a farm in Benoni, near Johannesburg, Charlize Theron’s early life was marked by rigorous artistic discipline and profound personal tragedy. She studied ballet at the National School of the Arts in Johannesburg before moving to the United States in her mid-teens to dance with the Joffrey Ballet in New York. After a knee injury abruptly ended her dance career, Theron relocated to Los Angeles with $400 in her pocket, where a chance encounter with a talent manager in a bank line led to her entry into Hollywood.

Theron made her breakthrough in high-profile 1990s films including The Devil's Advocate (1997) and The Cider House Rules (1999). In 2003, she delivered a transformative, critically acclaimed performance as serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster, becoming the first South African actor to win an Academy Award in a major category. She went on to establish herself as one of Hollywood's highest-paid, most versatile stars, transitioning seamlessly between award-winning dramas like North Country (2005) and Bombshell (2019), and global blockbuster action franchises including Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), Atomic Blonde (2017), and The Fast Saga.

Beyond acting, Theron is a major industry force through her production company, Secret Menu (formerly Denver and Delilah Productions), which has produced films and series such as Young Adult, Tully, Bombshell, and Netflix’s The Old Guard and Mindhunter. Concurrently, her historic multi-decade partnership as the face of Christian Dior’s J'adore fragrance stands among the most lucrative endorsement deals in entertainment history. Appointed a United Nations Messenger of Peace in 2008, Theron founded the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP) in 2007, raising tens of millions of dollars to combat HIV/AIDS and empower youth across Southern Africa.

## Career timeline

- 1997: Broke through in Hollywood starring in The Devil's Advocate
- 2003: Founded production banner Denver and Delilah (now Secret Menu)
- 2004: Won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Monster
- 2007: Founded the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP)
- 2008: Appointed United Nations Messenger of Peace
- 2015: Starred as Imperator Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road

## Companies and board roles

- Secret Menu — Founder & Principal
- Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project — Founder & Board Member
- United Nations — Messenger of Peace

## Awards and recognition

- 2004 — Academy Award for Best Actress (Monster)
- 2004 — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama (Monster)
- 2004 — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor (Monster)
- 2005 — Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
- 2019 — Hollywood Career Achievement Award
- 2020 — Academy Award Nomination for Best Actress (Bombshell)

## In their words

> "I wanted to control my own narrative and create complex roles for women that weren't being written."

## In the news

- [Theron says she continues to be inspired by Madiba](https://townpress.co.za/theron-says-she-continues-to-be-inspired-by-madiba/) (18 Jul 2018)