Charlize Theron has been in the entertainment industry for over 20 years now, and her relocation from South Africa to Hollywood drastically changed her life. Fans know that the Oscar-winning actress had a tough childhood, and it was not all glitz and glamour living with an abusive father.
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Indeed, Theron’s story is an inspiring tale of the sheer willpower and determination of someone courageous enough to change the course of their lives. Now, she has lived a full and contented life and even claimed that if she perishes tomorrow, she’s at peace knowing she chose her own path.
Charlize Theron Moved To New York After A Traumatic Event In South Africa
In an interview with Marie Claire, Atomic Blonde star Charlize Theron took a trip down memory lane and recalled the bitterness of her childhood. She noted how her experiences in South Africa forced her to move to the US:
“My early life, I was just speeding through, because I saw a lot of life taken away around me. My 20s were like, ‘You can die, so get it done.’ I always felt like there was a clock ticking, like everything was life and death, and I’m not a citizen, so if I don’t make it…”
When Theron was 15, her mother Gerda Jacoba Aletta Maritz shot her abusive and alcoholic father after he threatened both of their lives with a gun. Because of this event, her mother encouraged her to move to New York when she turned 16. She took ballet class, but unfortunately, she suffered a knee injury that forced her to switch to acting.
The actress really got the job done and became a household name in Hollywood. She starred in numerous movies throughout the years, but her career-defining moment was winning an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as Aileen Wuornos in the 2003 film Monster.
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The events in her past still haunted Theron, revealing that going to therapy changed her perspective in life:
“I didn’t discover therapy until my mid-30s. My reasons for going had a lot to do with South Africa and uncertainty and living with an alcoholic every day in my life. What I discovered was that my life was an all-encompassing thing. It showed me that I can see the big picture and understand the reason to get to a place where I could create a life for my own kid.”
It was determination fortified by her traumatic experiences that guided Theron in her decisions. Her leaving South Africa to lead a better life and striving to “get it done” gave her a new chance of living free from danger and creating a safe environment for her kids.
Charlize Theron Is Happy And Thriving With Her Present Life
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Theron’s mother usually steps in for the kids whenever the actress gets busy with her schedule. The Snow White & The Huntsman star remained single after her split with Sean Penn in 2015, but she is happily contented with her family life. She reflected:
“My 20s were really about getting a lot of stuff out of my system—wanting to experience the world, do drugs, travel to Turkey for four months with a backpack, and I did all that, so by the time I had kids, I was really ready.”
The 48-year-old actress mused that she finally found peace in her life and has no regrets over the things that happened in the past knowing she carved her own pathway:
“I’m in bed at 7:45 every night now, and I love it because I’ve lived. You don’t want to be 80, and on your deathbed and wonder what might have happened. If I die tomorrow, I’m at peace with who I am in my life.”
There’s nothing more inspiring than Charlize Theron’s fight for her and her mother’s life. The transition might have been scary, but it was all worth it in the end.
Source: Marie Claire