Guests: Episodes with Charlize Theron

Born in Benoni, South Africa on August 7, 1975, Charlize Theron is a critically acclaimed actress renowned for her versatility. She gained fame for her Oscar-winning performance as serial killer Aileen Wuornos in “Monster” (2003), making her the first African to win an acting Oscar. Theron’s upbringing included a tragedy: her mother killed her father in self-defense during an alcohol-induced attack when Theron was 15.

Originally aiming for a career in ballet, Theron moved to Milan at 16 to model, then to New York City to study at the Joffrey Ballet School. A knee injury thwarted her dance aspirations, so she pivoted to acting. She was discovered by an agent in Hollywood after an impassioned confrontation with a bank that refused to cash her check.

Theron quickly rose through the ranks of Hollywood, starting with small roles and then breaking out in “The Devil’s Advocate” (1997). Her career showcases a range of roles, from dramas like “North Country” (2005), which earned her another Oscar nomination, to action-packed flicks such as “Mad Max: Fury Road” (2015) and “Atomic Blonde” (2017).

Over the years, she has consistently proven her versatility. She played a U.S. secretary of state in the romantic comedy “Long Shot” (2019) and journalist Megyn Kelly in the docudrama “Bombshell” (2019), for which she received her third Oscar nomination. Theron also entered the animated world, lending her voice to “Kubo and the Two Strings” (2016) and “The Addams Family” series (2019, 2021).