Charlize Theron is a South African-born actress and producer, born on August 7, 1975, in Benoni, South Africa. Initially trained as a ballet dancer, her career shifted to acting after a dance injury. She moved to Los Angeles and began with small roles, gaining early notice in films like "2 Days in the Valley" (1996) and "The Devil's Advocate" (1997). Her breakthrough came with "The Cider House Rules" (1999), earning her recognition and awards nominations[1][2][3]. Theron achieved widespread critical acclaim for her transformative role as serial killer Aileen Wuornos in "Monster" (2003), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress, along with a Golden Globe and numerous other accolades. She gained further recognition for performances in "The Life and Death of Peter Sellers" (2004), "North Country" (2005)—which earned her a second Oscar nomination—and "Young Adult" (2011)[2][3][4]. Known for her versatility, Theron has played roles ranging from action heroines to dramatic leads. She starred as Imperator Furiosa in "Mad Max: Fury Road" (2015), a role that was widely praised, and appeared in films such as "Snow White and the Huntsman" (2012), "Hancock" (2008), and "The Old Guard" (2020)[3][4][5]. In recent years, Theron has taken on producing roles and starred in socially relevant films, notably portraying Megyn Kelly in "Bombshell" (2019), which earned her a third Oscar nomination. She also appeared in "Long Shot" (2019), "F9: The Fast Saga" (2021), and voiced Morticia Addams in animated features[4][5]. Theron is recognized for her commitment to diverse, complex characters and her influence extends beyond acting into production and activism. At age 50, she remains a prominent figure in Hollywood with a career spanning over two decades[4][5].