Charlize Theron threw a house party to celebrate her new son’s first birthday that Sandra Bullock and her adorable son Louis attended on Feb. 18. While Bullock’s name has been in all the latest news on celeb gossip websites for her prestigious status as a Hollywood movie star (because she’s hosting a segment during the Oscars on Feb. 24), Theron has been doing more behind-the-scenes. She’s been using her celebrity status less to promote her own star power and opting instead to focus more on doing good deeds.
Theron is a philanthropic powerhouse who has fought against the devastating AIDS crisis in her South African homeland. She has opposed violence against women, supported animal treatment and rescue, and works tirelessly for a host of humanitarian, pet friendly and eco-friendly charities. She established her own foundation, the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project , to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
She is also a UN Ambassador of Peace.
According to Huffington Post, Theron accepted an award on Jan. 22 for her humanitarian work at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
One spectacular charitable contribution was to raise $42,000 as a dinner date for a businessman who bid on her at a charity auction. The funds went to Oxfam, the International Red Cross, the National Geographic Society and other charities.
Along with many other charities, Theron supports People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
Charlize Theron was born on August 7, 1975 in Bennoni, Gauteng, South Africa. After growing up on a farm and studying ballet, she took a place in New York with the Joffrey Ballet. She did a bit of modeling until a knee injury put an end to her dancing career.
At age 18, she headed to Los Angeles with no connections or contacts until an agent handed her his card. The agent handed her the card after she demonstrated her acting ability at a bank that would not accept a check that her mother had sent her. She studied acting and learned English by watching soap operas.
Her first breakthrough film role in “The Devil’s Advocate”. She went on to portray characters with much more depth than mere eye candy, winning praise for her work in such films as “Legend of Bagger Vance” and “The Italian Job” until 2004 when she won her first Oscar for her role in “Monster”.
She and Bullock (who starred in “The Blindside”) have been celebrity friends for quite some time now — which is not surprising. Since Sandra is one of the world’s most prominent humanitarians and green celebrities, she and Theron both must have tons to discuss.
Since they are both adoptive mothers, they also are likely to bond while discussing parenting.