About Charlize Theron Charlize Theron (pronounced /ʃɑrˈliːz ˈθɛrən/; born August 7, 1975) is a South African actress, film producer, and former fashion model. She became an American citizen in 2007. She rose to fame in the late 1990s following her roles in 2 Days in the Valley, Mighty Joe Young, The Devil's Advocate, and The Cider House Rules. She received critical acclaim and an Academy Award for her portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the film Monster, for which she became the first African to win an Academy Award in a major acting category. She received another Academy Award nomination for her performance in North Country.