Before her acting career,  Charlize Theron trained as a  ballet dancer but had to abandon  it due to a knee injury.

Theron is fluent in Afrikaans  and often surprises people  with her ability to speak  the language. 

Theron's entry into acting  was accidental when a talent  agent witnessed her heated  argument with a bank teller. 

As a teenager, Theron  played the saxophone and  considered pursuing a  music career. 

Theron became a  naturalized citizen  of the United States  in 2007. 

Theron's mother, Gerda,  competed in the 1960  Miss South Africa  beauty pageant. 

Charlize Theron was named  after her father, Charles,  and chose to use her first  name professionally. 

Theron is a master at adopting  various accents for her  roles, showcasing her  versatility as an actress. 

Theron is a passionate  advocate for animal rights  and has adopted several  rescue dogs. 

Theron co-produced the  film "Monster," for which  she won an Academy Award  for Best Actress