Trivia

When she was age 15, her father attacked her mother, and her mother shot back and killed him. The shooting was legally adjudged to have been self-defense, and her mother was not charged in the incident.

After winning her Oscar, she returned to great celebrations in her native South Africa, and she even met former South African President Nelson Mandela. When he praised her for putting their country on the map and gave her a hug, Theron broke into tears (she was guest of honor at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg on March 11, 2004).

Suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) to the extent that, if renting a house/hotel room during a movie shoot, cannot relax until she has explored every closet, locker and drawer in the premises.

Always speaks Afrikaans with her mother, who resides two minutes from her in Los Angeles. They have matching fish tattoos.

At age 16, she won a modeling competition to go to Milan, Italy, and work on the catwalks and, at age 18, won a scholarship to study ballet at the Joffrey School in New York. She turned to acting only because she injured both knees, dashing any hopes of a ballet career.

On the show Shootout (2003), it was revealed that her manager discovered her in a Hollywood bank after he witnessed her shouting at a bank teller for refusing to cash her check.

One of the first movies she ever went to see at the theater was Splash (1984). She confessed that after watching the movie, she felt jealous of Daryl Hannah and developed a crush on Tom Hanks. She even said to herself that she could have played the role of Madison better than Hannah.

As a teenager in her native South Africa, she learned English by watching American television.

(May 3, 2019) Revealed that she landed in the hospital for five days after watching Borat (2006). She went to go see the film while she had a pre-existing injury in her neck - a herniated disk in her neck. She laughed so hard that her neck locked up. An ambulance had to take her to the hospital. Though the movie came out nearly 15 years ago, Theron said she's never had a chance to pick up where she left off.

Has two adopted children: a son Jackson Theron (b. November 2011, adopted March 2012) and a daughter August Theron (adopted July 2015).

Has her own charity called the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project, which is committed to reducing the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and sexual violence among African youth.

Her first language is Afrikaans (South African Dutch) and she did not become fluent in English until she came to the United States as a teenager. Consequently, American is her natural accent when speaks English.

Turned down the female lead in Pearl Harbor (2001) to star alongside Keanu Reeves in Sweet November (2001).

Used hypnotherapy as an assistance to give up smoking.

She earns $2 million per year endorsing Dior's "J'Adore" fragrance, as well as $2.5 million per year endorsing Swiss watchmaker Raymond Weil.

Both of her parents were born and raised in South Africa. Her ancestry is Afrikaner: largely Dutch, as well as French Huguenot (the origin of her surname) and German.

She gained 30 pounds to play Aileen Wuornos in Monster (2003). She was awarded with the Best Actress Oscar for her performance of the role on what would have been Aileen's 48th birthday: February 29, 2004.

The correct pronunciation of her name: Sharleese Ti-ron. The "Ti" pronounced as in till. The surname is a well-known Afrikaans surname which originated from France, coming to South Africa by way of the immigration of the French Huguenots.

She is the second South African-born person to win an Academy Award--Ted Moore was the first. Basil Rathbone was the first South African-born actor to be nominated, followed by Cecil Kellaway. Theron was the first South African-born woman to win an Oscar.

On March 12, 2008, she announced on the Late Show with David Letterman (1993) that she is now a U.S. citizen.

United Nations Messenger of Peace.

She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on September 29, 2005.

Has said her favorite actor is Tom Hanks.

Trained as a ballet dancer at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City, and performed in both "Swan Lake" and "The Nutcracker". Her dancing career ended after a knee injury.

Became a fashion model at age 14.

Shaved her head for the role of Imperator Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road (2015).

Does not have a middle name. However, her mother has 13.

Is the only child of Charles, whom she was named after, and Gerda Theron. They worked in road construction.

Sued photographer Guido Argentini, charging breach of contract and invasion of privacy for allegedly selling intimate photos he took of her in 1994 to Playboy. She won the case. (December 9, 1998)

She is good friends with her North Country (2005) co-star, Jeremy Renner.

In 2004, she injured her neck while filming Æon Flux (2005). Fortunately the injury was not serious enough to put her in the hospital, but it did postpone production for several weeks.

Was the seventh highest paid actress of 2017 with $14 million.

"Entertainment Weekly" predicted her Oscar win for Monster (2003) 11 months before she won it.

Founded the film company "Denver and Delilah Productions" in the early 2000s.

Nude pictures of her taken in 1994 appeared in the May 1999 issue of Playboy magazine.

Her first modeling assignment was for the Afrikaans-language monthly women's magazine "Rooi Rose" (Red Rose) when she was the "New Model Today" winner in 1991.

The legendary film critic Roger Ebert was a great admirer of Theron's talent. He would describe her as "one of the best actors now working" and "an actress who has the beauty of a fashion model but has found resources within herself for these powerful roles about unglamorous women in the world of men" in reviews of her films.

Is a supporter of animal rights and appeared in a PETA ad for its anti-fur campaign.

Was considered for the role of Satine in Moulin Rouge! (2001) but Nicole Kidman, who went onto receive the Best Actress Oscar nomination for her performance, was cast instead.

Ranked #5 on the list of "Hollywood's Top-Earning Actresses in 2012" by Forbes magazine. Her income between May 2011 and May 2012 was estimated to be $18 million.

Named "Sexiest Actress" by Victoria's Secret What Is Sexy list. (2012)

Is involved in women's rights organizations, and has marched in pro-choice rallies.

On April 24, 2012, she received America's National Association of Theatre Owners - Distinguished Decade of Achievement in Film Award, at CinemaCon in Las Vegas.

Was listed as a potential nominee on the 2006 Razzie Award nominating ballot. She was listed as a suggestion in the Worst Actress category for her performance in Æon Flux (2005). However, she failed to receive a nomination (had she gotten the nomination, she would have been the first person to be nominated for both Leading Actress awards at the Oscars, for North Country (2005), and the Razzies.).

Placed #1 on Beautiful People Internet Poll, narrowly beating Cameron Diaz in #2 and Kate Beckinsale in #3. The photo featured on the site was the famous 'Diving Board' photo.

Was introduced to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) by a friend and became obsessed with this.

Returned to work four months after adopting her son Jackson in order to begin filming Mad Max: Fury Road (2015).

Replaced Angelina Jolie in the role of Dagny Taggart in Atlas Shrugged: Part I (2011) before being replaced by Taylor Schilling.

Dyed her hair black for the title role in Æon Flux (2005).

In April 2019, Theron revealed that her son Jackson, identifies as a girl. She stated, "I am raising two beautiful proud Black African girls and I want them to find themselves and not necessarily push my ancestry on them.".