Charlize Theron

With ballet as her first profession and modeling her second, stunning Charlize Theron certainly turns heads. Born Aug. 7, 1975, in South Africa, Theron modeled briefly in Milan at age 16. When her return to a career in dance was abruptly ended by a knee injury, Theron turned her sights to California and acting, and got her first gig after an agent saw her impassioned pleas that a bank teller cash her check.

After a dubious role in Children of the Corn III, Theron co-starred opposite Keanu Reeves in The Devil's Advocate. Audiences got a glimpse of her acting range in The Cider House Rules, which was followed by Reindeer Games and Sweet November.

She glammed up for the flashy 2003 remake of The Italian Job, and gave an unforgettable Oscar-winning performance in a decidedly unglamorous role as serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster, solidifying Theron's place on Hollywood's A-list.

Filmography