As a young girl, Charlize Theron witnessed her mother fatally shoot her abusive father in self-defense \u2014 a traumatic event that would shape, but never define, her life.<\/p>\n
Born on August 7, 1975, in Benoni, South Africa, Charlize grew up speaking Afrikaans and was often bullied at school for her glasses and looks. Her father, a violent alcoholic, made home life unbearable. When he came home drunk one night and fired a gun at Charlize and her mother, Gerda, her mother shot back \u2014 killing him to save them both. The act was ruled self-defense.<\/p>\n
Instead of being broken by tragedy, Charlize turned pain into power. At 19, she mo<\/p>\n