Charlize Theron

Co-starred with Will Smith in the superhero comedy, "Hancock"

Directed by boyfriend Stuart Townsend in "The Battle in Seattle," a film about the 1999 World Trade Organization protests

Played a police detective opposite Tommy Lee Jones in Paul Haggis' "In the Valley of Elah"

Cast in "North Country" a fictionalized account of the first major successful sexual harassment case in the United States; earned Oscar, Golden Globe and SAG nominations for Best Actress

Guest-starred in five episodes of the Fox comedy "Arrested Development," playing the love interest of Jason Bateman

Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (September)

Starred in the title role in the feature adaptation of the MTV cartoon "Aeon Flux"

Cast as blonde bombshell and former Bond girl Britt Ekland in the HBO bio-pic "The Life and Times of Peter Sellers"; received Golden Globe, SAG and Emmy nominations for Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Signed on to be the new face of Christian Dior's fragrance J'adore; appeared in print ads and TV commercials

Starred alongside Mark Wahlberg as the female lead in "The Italian Job"

Won an Oscar portraying real life serial killer Aileen Wuornos in "Monster"

Starred in comedy "Waking Up in Reno" with Billy Bob Thorton

Starred in drama "Trapped" with Kevin Bacon as parents whose daughter is kidnapped

Reteamed with Keanu Reeves for the remake of "Sweet November"

Reunited with Woody Allen for a role in "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion"

Co-starred with Ben Affleck in "Reindeer Games"

Played Robert De Niro's alcoholic wife in "Men of Honor"

Starred with Matt Damon and Will Smith in Robert Redford's "The Legend of Bagger Vance"

Offered a strong turn as a woman torn between two loves in "The Cider House Rules"

Played the title role in the thriller "The Astronaut's Wife"

Had featured role as an oversexed supermodel in Woody Allen's "Celebrity"

Won praise for her performance as Keanu Reeves' neglected wife in "The Devil's Advocate"

Had a featured role in Tom Hanks' directorial debut, "That Thing You Do!"

Made film debut in John Herzfeld's "2 Days in the Valley"

Had a non-speaking role in the direct-to-video film, "Children of the Corn III"

Settled in Los Angeles; talent manager John Crosby volunteered to represent her after witnessing a colorful tantrum aimed at a bank teller who would not cash her out-of-state check

At age 16, won an Italian modeling agency contest

Moved to Milan and for the next year and traveled all over Europe modeling

Began studying ballet at age six

Danced professionally in Johannesberg

Grew up on family's farm in Benoni, South Africa

Moved to Miami

Narrowly beaten out by Elizabeth Berkley for the lead in the disastrous "Showgirls"

Relocated to NYC, taking modeling jobs to pay the rent; studied with the Joffrey Ballet for eight months before a knee injury curtailed dance career