Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron, nominated for best actress for her work in "North Country," poses at the 25th annual nominees luncheon hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, Calif., Feb. 13, 2006. Oscar nominees attended the function in anticipation of the Academy Awards scheduled for March 5.

Theron startled movie audiences with her realistic portrayal of serial killer Aileen Carol Wuornos in "Monster." It was a far cry from Theron's customary glamorous appearance, as seen here at a central London cinema for the British premiere of "The Italian Job," one of her other films, Sept. 15, 2003.

Theron as she appears in "Monster."

Director Patty Jenkins, left, and Theron arrive at the premiere of the film "Monster" in New York Dec. 17, 2003. The movie is about a highway prostitute who was executed for killing seven men in Florida in the 1980s.

Director Patty Jenkins, left; Al Bulling, owner of "The Last Resort," bar in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Theron, who stars in the movie "Monster," at the premiere of the film in New York Dec. 17, 2003.

AP/The Saginaw News, courtesy Dawn Botkins

Dawn Botkins, left, is hugged by Theron who plays executed serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the movie "Monster," in this undated photo. Botkins, 47, who corresponded with Wuornos for a decade while she was on Florida's death row, visited with her friend for three hours before she was executed by lethal injection Oct. 9, 2002.

Mark Wahlberg and Theron in "The Italian Job," which was released May 30, 2003.

Mark Wahlberg as Charlie Croker, Theron as Stella and Jason Statham as Handsome Rob in "The Italian Job."

Theron holds a totem from her film "Mighty Joe Young," which she presented to Planet Hollywood in San Francisco, Dec. 17, 1998. Chasing a 4,000 pound gorilla around a muddy Hawaiian mountain in the film was no problem for Theron, who considers animals an integral part of her reality.

Ben Affleck gets a hug from Theron, his "Reindeer Games" co-star, at the premiere of the film, Feb. 21, 2000, at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood.

"Sweet November" co-stars Theron and Keanu Reeves embrace at the premiere of the film in Los Angeles, Feb. 12, 2001.

Theron, left, and Helen Hunt at the Venice Lido in Italy Sept. 1, 2001, to present their movie, "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion," directed by Woody Allen, which was in competition for the Golden Lion at the 58th Venice Film Festival.

Theron arrives at a screening of "The Truth about Charlie," Oct. 16, 2002, in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Stuart Townsend, left, arrives with Theron in a gondola at the Venetian Resort Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, June 30, 2003, for the premiere of the movie "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen."

Theron and Stuart Townsend are seen at the men's semifinals at the US Open tennis tournament Sept. 6, 2003 in New York.

Mark Walhberg and Theron arrive at the screening of "The Italian Job" at the 29th American Film Festival of Deauville, Normandy, Sept. 12, 2003.

Theron arrives at the screening of "The Italian Job" at the 29th American Film Festival of Deauville Sept. 12, 2003.

Theron arrives at the screening of "The Italian Job" at the 29th American Film Festival of Deauville Sept. 12, 2003.

Theron looks at the crowd as she arrives at a central London cinema for the British premiere of "The Italian Job" in London Sept. 15, 2003.

Theron takes the stage to accept the Oscar for best actress for her work in "Monster," at the 76th annual Academy Awards, Feb. 29, 2004, in Los Angeles.