Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Charlize Theron
How Charlize Theron built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Charlize Theron is a highly acclaimed South African and American actress and producer, recognized as one of the world's highest-paid actresses. Her talent has been acknowledged with prestigious awards, including an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. In 2016, she was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people, solidifying her impact and prominence in the entertainment industry.
1989: Playing a spy on the eve of the collapse of the Berlin Wall in Atomic Blonde
In 2017, Charlize Theron played a spy on the eve of the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989 in Atomic Blonde, an adaptation of the graphic novel The Coldest City, directed by David Leitch.
1997: Leading role in The Devil's Advocate
In 1997, Charlize Theron played the leading lady in the Hollywood film "The Devil's Advocate".
1998: Leading role in Mighty Joe Young
In 1998, Charlize Theron played the leading lady in the Hollywood film "Mighty Joe Young".
1999: Leading role in The Cider House Rules
In 1999, Charlize Theron played the leading lady in the Hollywood film "The Cider House Rules".
2003: Critical acclaim for Monster
In 2003, Charlize Theron received critical acclaim for her portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in "Monster".
2003: Starred in The Italian Job
In 2003, Charlize Theron starred in the commercially successful action film "The Italian Job".
2004: Signing deal with John Galliano for Christian Dior
In 2004, Charlize Theron signed a deal with John Galliano and replaced Tiiu Kuik as the spokeswoman in the J'Adore advertisements by Christian Dior.
October 2005: Earning US$3 million for Raymond Weil advertising campaign
From October 2005 to December 2006, Charlize Theron earned US$3 million for the use of her image in a worldwide print media advertising campaign for Raymond Weil watches.
2005: Academy Award Nomination for North Country
In 2005, Charlize Theron received another Academy Award nomination for playing a sexually abused woman seeking justice in the drama "North Country".
December 2006: Earning US$3 million for Raymond Weil advertising campaign
From October 2005 to December 2006, Charlize Theron earned US$3 million for the use of her image in a worldwide print media advertising campaign for Raymond Weil watches.
2007: Starred in In the Valley of Elah and Sleepwalking
In 2007, Charlize Theron played a police detective in the crime film "In the Valley of Elah", and produced and starred as a mother in the drama film "Sleepwalking".
November 2008: Settlement of lawsuit with Raymond Weil
On 4 November 2008, the lawsuit between Charlize Theron and Raymond Weil, initiated in February 2006, was settled.
2008: Produced The Burning Plain
In 2008, Charlize Theron produced "The Burning Plain", in which she also had a starring role.
2008: Starred in The Burning Plain and Hancock
In 2008, Charlize Theron starred as a woman who faced a traumatic childhood in the drama "The Burning Plain", and played the ex-wife of an alcoholic superhero in the superhero film "Hancock". Also in 2008, Theron was named the Hasty Pudding Theatricals Woman of the Year, and was asked to be a UN Messenger of Peace by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
2008: Starred in Hancock
In 2008, Charlize Theron starred in the commercially successful action film "Hancock".
May 2009: Supporting Same-Sex Marriage
On 30 May 2009, Charlize Theron attended a march and rally in Fresno, California, to support same-sex marriage. She publicly stated that she refused to get married until same sex marriage became legal in the United States.
2011: Praise for role in Young Adult
In 2011, Charlize Theron received praise for playing troubled women in Jason Reitman's comedy-drama "Young Adult".
2012: Starring in Snow White and the Huntsman and Prometheus
In 2012, Charlize Theron played the villain in two major films: Evil Queen Ravenna in "Snow White and the Huntsman" and a crew member in Ridley Scott's "Prometheus." Both movies achieved significant box office success, earning approximately US$400 million each internationally.
2012: Starred in Prometheus
In 2012, Charlize Theron starred in the commercially successful action film "Prometheus".
March 2014: Attending the Fame and Philanthropy fundraising event
In March 2014, the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP) was among the charities that benefited from the annual Fame and Philanthropy fundraising event during the 86th Academy Awards. Charlize Theron was an honoured guest along with Halle Berry and James Cameron.
May 2014: Hosting Saturday Night Live
On 10 May 2014, Charlize Theron hosted "Saturday Night Live" on NBC. Also, in 2014, she starred in the western comedy film "A Million Ways to Die in the West".
September 2015: Signing an open letter for One Campaign
In September 2015, Charlize Theron signed an open letter which One Campaign had been collecting signatures for. The letter urged Angela Merkel and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to focus on women.
2015: Produced Dark Places
In 2015, Charlize Theron produced "Dark Places", in which she also had a starring role.
2015: Starred in Mad Max: Fury Road
In 2015, Charlize Theron starred in the commercially successful action film "Mad Max: Fury Road".
2015: Starring in Dark Places and Mad Max: Fury Road
In 2015, Charlize Theron starred in the film adaptation of "Dark Places" and played Imperator Furiosa in "Mad Max: Fury Road". "Mad Max" received critical acclaim, and grossed US$378.4 million worldwide.
2016: The Last Face release
In 2016, 'The Last Face', a film starring Charlize Theron and directed by Sean Penn, was released.
2016: Starring in The Huntsman: Winter's War, The Last Face, and Kubo and the Two Strings; named in Time 100 list
In 2016, Charlize Theron reprised her role in "The Huntsman: Winter's War," starred in "The Last Face," voiced a character in "Kubo and the Two Strings," and was named in the Time 100 list.
August 2017: Visiting South Africa with Trevor Noah and donating to Life Choices
In August 2017, Charlize Theron visited South Africa with Trevor Noah and made a donation to the South African charity Life Choices.
2017: Starring in The Fate of the Furious and Atomic Blonde
In 2017, Charlize Theron starred in "The Fate of the Furious" as Cipher and in "Atomic Blonde" as a spy. "The Fate of The Furious" grossed US$1.2 billion worldwide.
2017: Starred in Atomic Blonde and The Fate of the Furious
In 2017, Charlize Theron starred in the commercially successful action films "Atomic Blonde" and "The Fate of the Furious".
2018: Appearing in a new advertisement for Dior J'adore and joining Breitling Cinema Squad
In 2018, Charlize Theron appeared in a new advertisement for Dior J'adore. She also joined Brad Pitt, Daniel Wu and Adam Driver as brand ambassadors for Breitling, dubbed the Breitling Cinema Squad.
2018: Giving a speech about AIDS prevention
In 2018, Charlize Theron gave a speech about AIDS prevention at the 22nd International AIDS Conference in Amsterdam, organized by the International AIDS Society.
2018: Praise for role in Tully
In 2018, Charlize Theron received praise for playing troubled women in Jason Reitman's comedy-drama "Tully".
2018: Starring in Tully and Gringo and producing A Private War
In 2018, Charlize Theron starred in "Tully" as an overwhelmed mother, played the president of a pharmaceutical corporation in "Gringo", and produced "A Private War".
2019: Produced Long Shot
In 2019, Charlize Theron produced "Long Shot", in which she also had a starring role.
2019: Academy Award Nomination for Bombshell
In 2019, Charlize Theron received her third Academy Award nomination for portraying Megyn Kelly in the biographical drama "Bombshell".
2019: Starring in Long Shot and Bombshell; Ranked ninth highest-paid actress by Forbes
In 2019, Charlize Theron starred in "Long Shot" and "Bombshell". For her role in "Bombshell," she received multiple award nominations. In 2019, Forbes ranked her as the ninth highest-paid actress in the world, with an annual income of $23 million.
May 2020: Release of The Old Guard originally set
In May 2020, the release of The Old Guard, in which she produced and starred in, was originally set. However, it was delayed to June 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Starred in The Old Guard
In 2020, Charlize Theron starred in the commercially successful action film "The Old Guard".
2020: CTAOP Partners with Parfums Christian Dior to Create Dior Stands With Women
In 2020, the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP) partnered with Parfums Christian Dior to create Dior Stands With Women, an initiative encouraging women to be assertive.
June 2021: Reprising role as Cipher in F9
Originally set for release in May 2020, it was delayed to June 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, In June 2021, Charlize Theron reprised her role as Cipher in F9.
2021: Starred in F9
In 2021, Charlize Theron starred in the commercially successful action film "F9".
June 2022: Receiving the Elizabeth Taylor Commitment to End AIDS Award
On 22 June 2022, Charlize Theron and Sheryl Lee Ralph received the Elizabeth Taylor Commitment to End AIDS Award for their commitment to raising awareness of HIV.
2022: Appearing as Clea in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and more
In 2022, Charlize Theron appeared as Clea in "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," played Lady Lesso in "The School for Good and Evil," and filmed a cameo in "The Boys."
2023: Reprising role as Cipher in Fast X and executive producing Last Call
In 2023, Charlize Theron reprised her role as Cipher in "Fast X" and executive produced the HBO documentary series "Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York".
2023: Starred in Fast X
In 2023, Charlize Theron starred in the commercially successful action film "Fast X".
June 2024: Dior announces Rihanna will be face of J'Adore instead of Theron
In June 2024, Dior announced Charlize Theron will no longer be the face of J'Adore and be replaced by Barbadian singer and businesswoman Rihanna.
2024: Casting in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey
In 2024, Charlize Theron was cast in Christopher Nolan's upcoming epic film "The Odyssey", scheduled for release in 2026.
2026: Release of The Odyssey scheduled
In 2024, Charlize Theron was cast in Christopher Nolan's upcoming epic film "The Odyssey", with the release scheduled for 2026.
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