Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron has opened up about her views on marriage, commitment and why she has never felt the need to say “I do”. Speaking on the Call Her Daddy podcast, the South African-born star shared personal reflections that challenged conventional ideas about long-term relationships, revealing a perspective grounded in self-awareness and emotional honesty.
Theron, 49, who was born and raised in Benoni, Gauteng, is known for keeping her private life out of the spotlight. But in her latest round of interviews — tied to the promotion of The Old Guard 2 — she’s let fans in on her personal journey, from motherhood and dating to why she has no intention of marrying.
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Marriage isn’t the goal
Addressing podcast host Alex Cooper, Theron was frank about her reasons for not tying the knot. “Let me just be clear. Marriage is a long-term commitment, and I think I want a long-term commitment. I don’t need to get married,” she said.
She added that her reluctance to legally formalise a relationship comes from a deeper place. “I think a lot of that comes from my tremendous fear of not being able to get out of something,” she explained. “That’s just me understanding me.” Her reflections show how commitment can be meaningful without the need for ceremony or paperwork.
Single, strong and self-aware
Theron is the mother of two daughters — Jackson, 12, and August, 9 — and proudly calls herself a single parent. Far from viewing this as a compromise, she has spoken of it as an empowered choice. In the same podcast episode, she admitted that dating in her forties has been the first time in her life where she’s felt completely at ease being single.
That sense of freedom came through again when she spoke about a recent one-night stand with a 26-year-old, a moment she described as “fun” and “refreshing”. “It made me feel young again,” she said, noting that the experience was out of character but aligned with where she is emotionally. “I was in a different place.”
Her take on modern romance
Theron’s views reflect a growing shift in how people approach love and relationships, especially later in life. She poked fun at California’s laws that equate long-term cohabitation with marriage, joking, “After seven years, you’re in a marriage whether you walk down the aisle or not. It’s 50-50, bru. Let’s just be clear.”
Still, she made it known that she is open to love. “If I were to find a relationship, I would think of it as something that I’m aiming for long term.” But for her, that doesn’t necessarily require wedding vows.
On-screen and in life, a woman in control
Theron’s personal revelations come at a time when her professional life is equally fearless. She returns to screens in The Old Guard 2, reprising her role as Andy, a centuries-old warrior leading a band of immortal mercenaries. The sequel introduces Uma Thurman as the antagonist, bringing fresh tension and emotional depth to the franchise.
Off-screen, Theron says she had to raise her game to match Thurman’s action presence. “She was going to bring it, so I had to bring it,” she said. Critics have praised the film’s balance of blockbuster action and emotional nuance, with Collider highlighting its exploration of guilt and loyalty among its immortal heroes.
An icon who writes her own script
Theron’s refusal to conform to societal expectations — whether in relationships, parenting or career choices — continues to resonate with audiences around the world. Her openness on Call Her Daddy offers a refreshing take on what it means to live with authenticity, even when that means breaking from tradition.
As she prepares to take on the role of Circe in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, Theron remains unapologetically herself. In doing so, she shows that there is more than one way to build a full, meaningful life — and that love, commitment and fulfilment don’t have to come wrapped in white dresses or rings.
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Featured Image: Instagram | @callherdaddy
