Charlize Theron was born in Benoni, South Africa on August 7, 1975. She was an only child and was sent to begin her studies at the National School of the Arts in Johannesburg at the age of 13. Growing up on her parent's farm in Johannesburg, Theron's first language was Afrikaans, and English her second.
In 1991, when Theron was 15 she witnessed her mother shoot and kill her father in an act of self defense. Her father was an alcoholic, who was often abusive so the police decided not to press charges.