Charlize Theron has been romantically connected to various influential individuals in her quest to find a life partner.
Prior to achieving Hollywood stardom, Theron was involved with actor Craig Bierko in the 1990s. After their separation, she then pursued a relationship with Stephan Jenkins, a member of the band Third Eye Blind, until 2001. Following this, Theron embarked on a significant long-term partnership with Stuart Townsend, which lasted nearly a decade. After parting ways with Townsend in 2009, she did not have any serious romantic involvements until her involvement with Sean Penn from 2013 to 2015.
Theron may not have found her ideal life partner at a young age, but that didn't hinder her from pursuing her dream of motherhood. In 2012 and 2015, she welcomed her adopted daughters Jackson and August into her life.
During an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show in September 2020, she revealed, "I haven't been in a relationship for more than five years. Once I became a mother, it didn't replace anything or diminish my interest in romance... Being a parent is a lot of hard work, and at the end of the day, I lie in bed and think, 'I wouldn't want this day to be any different.'"
Continue scrolling to discover Theron's dating past:
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Charlize Theron's Dating History: Stuart Townsend, Sean Penn, Alex Dimitrijevic and More
Charlize Theron has been romantically linked to many big names while on her search for The One.
Theron previously dated actor Craig Bierko in the 1990s before achieving success in Hollywood. Following their breakup, she then entered a relationship with Stephan Jenkins, a member of the band Third Eye Blind, until 2001. Theron later embarked on a long-term relationship with Stuart Townsend, which lasted for nearly a decade, until their split in 2009. It wasn't until 2013 that Theron began dating Sean Penn, which lasted until 2015.
Although Theron didn't find her ideal life partner early on, this didn't deter her from pursuing her dream of becoming a mother. In 2012 and 2015, she adopted her daughters, Jackson and August, respectively.
"I haven't been in a relationship for more than five years," she revealed during her appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show in September 2020. "Having children doesn't replace or diminish my interest in romance, but it requires a lot of effort to be a parent. At the end of the day, when I crawl into bed, I feel content with how my day went."
As for Theron, she did find someone who met her criteria. In May 2023, we confirmed that she was dating Alex Dimitrijevic, whom she had met at an event a few months earlier.
Keep scrolling to see Theron’s dating history:
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Craig Bierko
Theron and Bierko began their relationship in 1995, during Theron's successful acting career in movies such as "Trial and Error," "That Thing You Do!," and "The Devil's Advocate."
In May 1997, Theron expressed her gratitude for having Bierko in her life, stating, "I consider myself the luckiest girl in the world as Craig is always there for me, offering unwavering support and making me feel secure and protected." However, their relationship came to an end later that same year.
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Stephan Jenkins
Theron found solace with the rockstar after ending things with Bierko. Their paths crossed during Theron's vacation in Hawaii, coinciding with Third Eye Blind's performance. The pair made their public debut as a couple at the BMI Pop Awards in May 1998. However, their relationship came to an end two years later. In 2003, Jenkins acknowledged that his former partner served as the inspiration for several tracks on Third Eye Blind's Out of the Vein album.
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Stuart Townsend
Theron and Townsend met while working on the film Trapped in the early 2000s. The actor shared that he was infatuated with Theron after the cast decided to grab dinner.
"She looked absolutely stunning. I was completely taken aback, thinking, 'Wow! Who is this girl?' It was funny because there had been so much happening during the event that I hadn't really paid attention to her," he revealed to Irish America in 2004. "Whenever she dressed up, it was simply incredible. ... I was instantly infatuated with her."
The couple managed a long-distance relationship and lived together in both Los Angeles and Ireland. By 2007, things became more serious as they were seen wearing rings and referring to each other as husband and wife, despite not being legally married. However, Theron and Townsend ended their relationship in late 2009.
"It was going downhill, and I had to put up a struggle," Theron revealed to Vogue in November 2011, discussing her split. "I was determined to make an effort and salvage it. That was my main focus. I wouldn't handle it any other way."
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Sean Penn
After being single for several years, Theron entered into a high-profile relationship with Penn in December 2013. Speculation about their engagement arose after a year of dating, but Theron and Penn ended their relationship in June 2015. Years later, Theron made it clear that she had no intention of marrying Penn.
"I never came close to marrying Sean. That's completely untrue," Theron explained to Howard Stern in 2020. "We were simply dating. It was a relationship, no doubt, but it only lasted for about a year."
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Gabriel Aubry
Following her separation from Penn, speculation arose in 2017 regarding Theron's alleged involvement with Aubry. However, the Oscar winner dismissed these rumors during her appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, emphasizing that both her and Aubry's children attend the same school. (Aubry is the father of daughter Nahla, whom he shares with his ex Halle Berry.)
However, according to an exclusive source, Theron and Aubry connected in May 2022, although their relationship was not considered serious. "Charlize has been romantically involved with Gabriel Aubry," revealed the insider. "They are keeping things very casual and simply enjoying each other's company."
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Alex Dimitrijevic
Charlize Theron and Aubry's romance ended after one year. However, in May 2023, it was confirmed by Us that Theron had started dating a model named Dimitrijevic, whom she had met at an event a few months prior. Although their relationship was new at the time, it quickly became serious. Theron's friends were particularly impressed by Dimitrijevic and believed that this relationship would last. The insider shared that Theron's friends appreciated the ease and love in their relationship, unlike some of her previous relationships.