Moviegoers were first introduced to the seductive charm of Charlize Theron in her feature film debut, MGM’s "2 Days in the Valley," with James Spader, Eric Stoltz, and Jeff Daniels. Theron played Helga, Spader’s partner and love interest, a woman unable to resist the allure of the danger that surrounds her. Even among such a powerhouse ensemble cast, Theron gave a standout performance.
In early 1997, Theron starred in Jonathan Lynn’s "Trial and Error" for New Line Cinema opposite Michael Richards and "2 Days in the Valley" co-star Jeff Daniels. By the fall of that same year, she appeared on the big screen once again co-starring with Al Pacino and Keanu Reeves in the Warner Brothers thriller and box office smash, "Devils Advocate."
Getting a glimpse of Theron’s extraordinary drive and amazing talent was all it took for Tom Hanks to cast Theron in his directorial debut, "That Thing You Do." The two-time Academy Award-winning actor brought this story to film from the script he authored. It told the tale of a small town rock band, The Wonders and the hit song that brings them fame. Theron portrayed Tina, Guy’s (Tom Everett Scott) hometown girlfriend, a woman who is less than dazzled by The Wonders overnight success and its repercussions.
In 1998 Theron starred in Woody Allen’s "Celebrity" for which she received rave reviews and followed it with "Mighty Joe Young," opposite Bill Paxton for Disney. And in 1999 audiences saw her star in Miramax’s Oscar nominated "The Cider House Rules" based on the acclaimed novel by John Irving, and in New Line Cinema’s "The Astronaut’s Wife" opposite Johnny Depp. "The Cider House Rules" stellar cast was honored with a nomination for “Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Theatrical Motion Picture” by the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
In 2000, the much in-demand Theron tackled back-to-back roles in the following movies: Robert Redford’s "The Legend of Bagger Vance" with Will Smith and Matt Damon, Fox 2000’s "Men of Honor" with Robert DeNiro and Cuba Gooding, Jr., John Frankenheimer’s "Reindeer Games" with Ben Affleck and "The Yards" for Miramax co-starring Mark Wahlberg, Joaquin Phoenix, James Caan and Faye Dunaway.
In 2001, Theron illuminated the screen in the Warner Bros tearjerker "Sweet November" alongside Keanu Reeves, as well as in Woody Allen’s "Curse of the Jade Scorpion," co-starring Helen Hunt, Dan Aykroyd and David Ogden Stiers.
In the fall of 2002 Miramax released "Waking Up In Reno," which casts Theron opposite Patrick Swayze, Natasha Richardson, and Billy Bob Thornton in a lovers crossroads. "Waking up in Reno" refers to more than just the alarm clock when these two married couples take a road trip—and an unexpected emotional detour—from their hometown of Little Rock to the "Biggest Little City in the World" for a monster truck rally.
The feature "Trapped," directed by Luis Mandoki, in which Charlize joins costars Kevin Bacon, Courtney Love, Stuart Townsend, Pruitt Taylor Vince and young award-winning talent Dakota Fanning was also released in the fall of 2002. When their daughter (Fanning) is kidnapped by experienced kidnappers (Bacon and Love), the Jennings' (Theron and Townsend) turn the tables on this seemingly foolproof plan with unexpected results.
Theron recently starred alongside Mark Wahlberg and Edward Norton in the internationally acclaimed hit caper movie "The Italian Job," directed by F. Gary Gray. Theron can next be seen in "The Life and Death Of Peter Sellers" opposite Geoffrey Rush, and "Head In The Clouds" with Penelope Cruz and Stuart Townsend. Theron resides in Los Angeles with her beloved dogs.
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