Charlize Theron has spoken candidly about the night her father was killed, describing the incident as a traumatic experience that she believes should be openly discussed to help others feel less alone.
In an interview with The New York Times, the Academy Award-winning actress reflected on the 1991 shooting of her father, Charles Jacobus Theron, by her mother, Gerda Theron. The killing was later deemed an act of self-defense.
Theron, who was 15 at the time, recalled that her father, who struggled with alcoholism, became enraged after she returned home one evening and did not greet him. She said she had rushed inside to use the bathroom, unaware that her actions would provoke his anger.
“He took it as disrespect,” Theron said, noting the cultural emphasis on greeting elders in South Africa. “He spiraled.”
The actress said she had anticipated trouble that night, recalling a sense of fear as she retreated to her bedroom. “I could tell the level of anger by the way he drove into the property,” she said. “I just knew something bad was going to happen.”
According to Theron, her mother and she hid as her father attempted to enter the house. Fearing for their safety, Gerda Theron fired a shot through a door, killing him.
Theron emphasized that her mother did not initiate the violence but acted to protect them. “She did what she had to do to keep us safe,” she said.
Now 50, Theron said she is no longer haunted by the events, but believes sharing such experiences is important. “I think these things should be talked about because it makes other people not feel alone,” she said.
The actress added that, at the time, she felt isolated, believing no one else had experienced something similar. Speaking publicly, she said, can help remove stigma surrounding domestic violence and trauma.
Theron has previously referenced her upbringing in South Africa and her father’s struggles, but her latest comments offer a more detailed account of the events leading up to his death.