Editing Charlize Theron (section)

===2003–2010: Rise to prominence===

[[File:Ms. magazine Cover - Fall 2005.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Theron on the cover of ''[[Ms. (magazine)|Ms.]]'' magazine in 2005]]

Theron starred as a safe and vault technician in the 2003 heist film ''[[The Italian Job (2003 film)|The Italian Job]]'', an American homage/[[remake]] of the 1969 British [[The Italian Job|film of the same name]], directed by [[F. Gary Gray]] and opposite [[Mark Wahlberg]], [[Edward Norton]], [[Jason Statham]], [[Seth Green]], and [[Donald Sutherland]]. The film was a box office success, grossing US$176 million worldwide.<ref>{{cite news |title=De Line hire portends more changes at Par |first=Dave |last=McNary |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2003/film/markets-festivals/de-line-hire-portends-more-changes-at-par-1117897479/ |date=21 December 2003 |access-date=5 October 2008 |archive-date=2 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502105337/https://variety.com/article/VR1117897479.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In ''[[Monster (2003 film)|Monster]]'' (2003), Theron portrayed [[serial killer]] [[Aileen Wuornos]], a former prostitute who was executed in Florida in 2002 for killing six men (she was not tried for a seventh murder) in the late 1980s and early 1990s;<ref name=tca /> film critic [[Roger Ebert]] felt that Theron gave "one of the greatest performances in the history of the cinema".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040101/REVIEWS/40310032/1023 |first=Roger |last=Ebert |title=Reviews: ''Monster'' |date=1 January 2004 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |archive-date= 5 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605075434/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20040101%2FREVIEWS%2F40310032%2F1023 |url-status=live }}</ref> For her portrayal, she was awarded the [[Academy Award for Best Actress]] at the [[76th Academy Awards]] in February 2004,<ref name="oscars-db">{{cite web|title=Academy Awards Database: Charlize Theron|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|url=http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/BasicSearch?action=searchLink&displayType=6&BSNomineeID=69587|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130113030444/http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/BasicSearch?action=searchLink&displayType=6&BSNomineeID=69587|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 January 2013|access-date=30 January 2008}}</ref> as well as the [[Screen Actors Guild Award]] and the [[Golden Globe Award]].<ref name="globes-db">{{cite web|title=Golden Globe Award Database: Charlize Theron |url=http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/member/28564 |publisher=Hollywood Foreign Press Association |access-date=30 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060523013603/http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/member/28564 |archive-date=23 May 2006}}</ref> She is the first South African to win an Oscar for Best Actress.<ref name="bbc-wof"/> The Oscar win pushed her to ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]''{{'}}s 2006 list of highest-paid actresses in Hollywood, earning up to US$10 million for a film; she ranked seventh.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna15958023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111206031831/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/15958023/ns/today-entertainment/t/kidman-now-highest-paid-actress/|url-status=live|archive-date=6 December 2011|title=Kidman now highest paid actress|work=msnbc|date=29 November 2006 |access-date=8 August 2012}}</ref> ''AskMen'' named her the number one most desirable woman of 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.askmen.com/specials/2003_top_99/1.html |title=Charlize Theron |work=askmen.com |access-date=8 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121202110233/http://www.askmen.com/specials/2003_top_99/1.html |archive-date= 2 December 2012}}</ref>

For her role as Swedish actress and singer [[Britt Ekland]] in the 2004 [[HBO]] film ''[[The Life and Death of Peter Sellers]]'', Theron garnered Golden Globe Award and [[Primetime Emmy Award]] nominations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/celebrities/charlize-theron|title=Charlize Theron|work=Television Academy|access-date=26 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615145422/http://www.emmys.com/celebrities/charlize-theron|archive-date=15 June 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2005, she portrayed [[List of Arrested Development minor characters#Rita Leeds|Rita]], the mentally challenged love interest of [[Michael Bluth]] ([[Jason Bateman]]), on the third season of [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]'s television series ''[[Arrested Development (TV series)|Arrested Development]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/charlize-theron-arrested-fox-comedy-wbna9129736|title=Charlize Theron gets 'Arrested' this season|publisher=[[Today.com]]|date=30 August 2005|access-date=24 July 2009|archive-date=23 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223065042/http://www.today.com/popculture/charlize-theron-arrested-fox-comedy-wbna9129736|url-status=live}}</ref> and starred in the financially unsuccessful science fiction thriller ''[[Æon Flux (film)|Æon Flux]]''; for her voice-over work in the ''Aeon Flux'' video game, she received a [[Spike Video Game Awards|Spike Video Game Award]] for Best Performance by a Human Female.<ref>{{cite web|title=Spike TV Video Game Awards 2005 Winners Announced |publisher=gamezone.com |url=http://www.gamezone.com/news/item/spike_tv_video_game_awards_2005_winners_announced/ |access-date=5 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614032846/http://www.gamezone.com/news/spike_tv_video_game_awards_2005_winners_announced |archive-date=14 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Video Game Awards 05' Pictures |publisher=cbsnews.com |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/2300-500150_162-1080110-12.html |access-date=5 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629034637/http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-500150_162-1080110-12.html |archive-date=29 June 2011}}</ref>

[[File:Charlize.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|Theron attending the premiere of ''[[North Country (film)|North Country]]'' at the [[2005 Toronto International Film Festival]]]]

In the critically acclaimed drama ''[[North Country (film)|North Country]]'' (2005), Theron played a single mother and an iron mine worker experiencing sexual harassment. David Rooney of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' wrote: "The film represents a confident next step for lead Charlize Theron. Though the challenges of following a career-redefining Oscar role have stymied actresses, Theron segues from ''[[Monster (2003 film)|Monster]]'' to a performance in many ways more accomplished [...] The strength of both the performance and character anchor the film firmly in the tradition of other dramas about working-class women leading the fight over industrial workplace issues, such as ''[[Norma Rae]]'' or ''[[Silkwood]]''."<ref>Rooney, David. (12 September 2005) [https://www.variety.com/awardcentral_review/VE1117928151.html?nav=reviews07&categoryid=1986&cs=1&p=0 ''Variety'' review] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020143600/http://www.variety.com/awardcentral_review/VE1117928151.html?nav=reviews07&categoryid=1986&cs=1&p=0 |date=20 October 2012 }}. ''Variety''. Retrieved on 8 July 2011.</ref> Roger Ebert echoed the same sentiment, calling her "an actress who has the beauty of a fashion model but has found resources within herself for these powerful roles about unglamorous women in the world of men."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ebert|first=Roger|title=North Country movie review & film summary (2005) {{!}} Roger Ebert|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/north-country-2005|website=rogerebert.com/|access-date=22 October 2020|archive-date=18 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118150400/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/north-country-2005|url-status=live}}</ref> For her performance, she received [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] and [[Golden Globe Award]] nominations for Best Actress.{{r|oscars-db|globes-db}} [[Ms. (magazine)|''Ms.'' magazine]] honoured her for this performance with a feature article in its Fall 2005 issue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.msmagazine.com/fall2005/oscar.asp|title=Ms. Congratulates Charlize Theron!|work=[[Ms. (magazine)|Ms.]] |access-date=8 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223180225/http://www.msmagazine.com/fall2005/oscar.asp|archive-date=23 February 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 30 September 2005, Theron received a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]].<ref name="bbc-wof">{{cite news|title=Hollywood honours actress Theron|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4296424.stm|work=BBC News|date=30 September 2005|access-date=8 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105144053/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4296424.stm|archive-date=5 January 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2007, Theron played a police detective in the critically acclaimed crime film ''[[In the Valley of Elah]]'', and produced and starred as a reckless, slatternly mother in the drama film ''[[Sleepwalking (film)|Sleepwalking]]'', alongside [[Nick Stahl]] and [[AnnaSophia Robb]]. ''[[The Christian Science Monitor]]'' praised the latter film, commenting that "Despite its deficiencies, and the inadequate screen time allotted to Theron (who's quite good), ''Sleepwalking'' has a core of feeling".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0314/p16s01-almo.html|title='Sleepwalking' has a dreamy feel |first=Peter |last=Rainer |date=14 March 2008 |newspaper=[[The Christian Science Monitor]] |access-date=15 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080317220803/http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0314/p16s01-almo.html |archive-date=17 March 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2008, Theron starred as a woman who faced a traumatic childhood in the drama ''[[The Burning Plain]]'', directed by [[Guillermo Arriaga]] and opposite [[Jennifer Lawrence]] and [[Kim Basinger]], and played the ex-wife of an alcoholic superhero alongside [[Will Smith]] in the [[superhero film]] ''[[Hancock (film)|Hancock]]''. ''The Burning Plain'' found a limited release in US theatres,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?view=&yr=2009&wknd=38&p=.htm |title=Domestic 2009 Weekend 38 |work=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=26 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026064618/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?view=&yr=2009&wknd=38&p=.htm |archive-date=26 October 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> but grossed $5,267,917 outside the US. ''Hancock'' made US$624.3 million worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?view=Actor&id=charlizetheron.htm |title=Charlize Theron Movie Box Office Results |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=26 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026104131/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?view=Actor&id=charlizetheron.htm |archive-date=26 October 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Also in 2008, Theron was named the [[Hasty Pudding Theatricals]] [[Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year|Woman of the Year]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=521600 |title=Hasty Pudding To Honor Walken, Theron |work=[[The Harvard Crimson]] |first=Chelsea L. |last=Shover |date=24 January 2008 |access-date=30 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206062214/http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=521600 |archive-date=6 December 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> and was asked to be a [[United Nations Messengers of Peace|UN Messenger of Peace]] by the UN Secretary-General [[Ban Ki-moon]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7730770.stm|title=Entertainment &#124; Actress to become UN peace envoy|publisher=BBC News|date=15 November 2008|access-date=24 July 2009|archive-date=2 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502105311/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7730770.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Her film releases in 2009 were the post-apocalyptic drama ''[[The Road (2009 film)|The Road]]'', in which she briefly appears in [[flashback (narrative)|flashbacks]], and the animated film ''[[Astro Boy (film)|Astro Boy]]'', providing her voice for a character. On 4 December 2009, Theron co-presented the draw for the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]] in [[Cape Town]], South Africa, accompanied by several other celebrities of South African nationality or ancestry. During rehearsals she drew an [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Ireland]] ball instead of [[France national football team|France]] as a joke at the expense of FIFA, referring to [[Thierry Henry]]'s handball controversy in the [[France vs Republic of Ireland (2010 FIFA World Cup Play-Off)|play-off match]] between France and Ireland.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/theron-has-a-ball-at-fifas-expense-1962410.html|title=Theron has a ball at FIFA's expense|first=Jason|last=O'Brien|work=[[The Irish Independent]]|date=3 December 2009|access-date=8 June 2010|archive-date=12 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100312080525/http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/theron-has-a-ball-at-fifas-expense-1962410.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[http://tonight.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=354&fArticleId=5273884 Charlize puts Ireland in the finals]. 4 December 2009 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150429033910/http://tonight.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=354&fArticleId=5273884 |date=29 April 2015}}</ref> The stunt alarmed FIFA enough for it to fear she might do it again in front of a live global audience.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irishcentral.com/sport/FIFA-shock-as-Charlize-Theron-picks-Ireland-as-first-team-for-World-Cup-78329492.html |title=FIFA shock as Charlize Theron picks Ireland as first team in World Cup draw, Hollywood star pulls stunt on World Cup officials in South Africa |date=2 December 2009 |publisher=Irishcentral.com |access-date=8 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100303172637/http://www.irishcentral.com/sport/FIFA-shock-as-Charlize-Theron-picks-Ireland-as-first-team-for-World-Cup-78329492.html |archive-date=3 March 2010 |url-status=live  }}</ref>