Benoni, Mar 01: Charlize Theron's Oscar win took her native country South Africa by storm on Monday, drawing adulation from fans who hailed the former farm girl as a role model for her Academy Award victory. President Thabo Mbeki led the country in extending congratulations to Theron, who left the small town of Benoni as a teenager to pursue her dream of stardom.
"In this film, we see her drawing on her innate tough-mindedness and her own emotional stamina in overcoming the tragic personal circumstances of her own early life in order to shine," Mbeki said in a statement following Sunday's awards.

When she was 15, Theron's mother Gerda, shot dead her alcoholic father Charles in self-defense when he came home in a drunken rage threatening to shoot his wife and daughter.

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

"Ms Theron, in her own personal life, represents a grand metaphor of South Africa's move from agony to achievement," Mbeki said.
Theron won best actress for her portrayal of real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the drama "Monster," a breakthrough role that saw her mask her glamorous beauty for the weather-beaten weariness of a tough roadside prostitute.

Her victory catapults her toward the top of Hollywood's roster of leading ladies. She is now also one of South Africa's most visible international celebrities, along with Nobel Peace laureates Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu and Nobel literature prize winners Nadine Gordimer and J.M. Coetzee.

The 28-year-old actress -- who has swapped her South African accent for the broad vowels of American English -- did not forget her homeland when collecting her gold statuette in Hollywood on Sunday night.

"I am going to thank everybody in South Africa, my home country," Theron said. "They are all watching tonight and I'm bringing this home next week."
Bureau Report