Charlize Theron reveals impact of her abusive dad’s alcoholism
Actress Charlize Theron has described her early life in South Africa, detailing the impact of alcohol abuse and family conflict on her upbringing.
Charlize Theron was left terrified by drunks amid her abusive father’s alcoholism.
The actress made the admission as she spoke about her childhood in South Africa, describing an upbringing marked by alcohol abuse and tension within her family home.
Charlize, 50, reflected on her early life in an interview with The New York Times, detailing experiences growing up with her father, Charles Theron, and her mother, Gerda Jacoba Aletta Martiz – who ended up shooting her dad dead in self-defence.
The actress said her father struggled with alcohol and that the atmosphere in their home was often shaped by his behaviour.
She was 15 when her mother fatally shot her father in 1991 in what was later ruled self-defence.
Charlize, who later left South Africa at 16 to pursue modelling in Europe, said her upbringing influenced her independence and outlook.
She added: “I have memories from when I was really young, seeing really drunk people, and it scared me. Like, people crawling on the floor drunk. That became so consistent that it was every Friday, Saturday, maybe even every Wednesday.”
