Meet Charlize Theron’s Two Adopted Daughters, Who Are Rarely Seen in Public

Charlize Theron is widely known for her magnetic screen presence and compelling performances, but behind her dazzling career is a deeply personal role she cherishes above all — being a mother.

The white South African actress adopted her African-American daughters as a single parent and has navigated unique challenges with humility and care. Take a closer look at her journey to motherhood and meet the two beautiful girls who are her world.

Embracing Single Motherhood

Charlize always knew she wanted to be a mother, but her path to parenthood was uniquely her own. Growing up in South Africa, the actress witnessed firsthand the struggles of children in need. Her early exposure to orphanages and vulnerable communities planted the seed of adoption as her future family’s foundation.

“This was definitely not a second option for me. It was always my first,” she shared. Even during her romantic relationships, she made her intentions clear to her partners. “[…] I was always honest with my partners, that adoption was how my family would look one day,” she added.

While Charlize had significant relationships in the past, including her decade-long romance with Stuart Townsend and a brief engagement to Sean Penn, marriage was never on her agenda. “I never wanted to get married,” she candidly stated in 2019.

“Those are things that are not hard for me because they’re innately my truth. I find people are somewhat perplexed by that and also more with women, right?” she added.

By the time she adopted her first daughter, the “Mad Max” star was single and wholly focused on building the family she had always envisioned. Three years later, she adopted her second daughter, August.

Charlize’s journey as a single mother was deeply intentional, with the Hollywood actress casting “a very wide net” to ensure she found the children meant to be hers.

“In whatever country they would allow me as a single woman to adopt, that’s where I filed, and it just happened to be that both my children ended up being American. Both my children were born in the United States and are African American. They were meant to be in my life,” she revealed.

As an only child, she always knew she wanted more than one child, even if that meant dealing with sibling rivalries. She reflected on the bittersweet challenges of raising two young children, sharing a touching memory of witnessing their bond evolve.

“We went through this really beautiful stage a year ago where the baby was hugging her sibling and there was all this love and affection,” she revealed.

“I was bawling my eyes out every day saying, ‘This is the most beautiful love I have ever witnessed in my life,’” the continued. However, the actress admitted that parenthood is as rewarding as it is challenging.

“Being a parent is a nice hard. When you’re in it, you think, ‘I’m never going to survive this.’ But when you get to the other side, you think, ‘This is amazing. I can’t believe I did that.’”

The award-winning star’s candid reflections underscore her fierce dedication to her daughters. “Everything about them comes first — what they need, who they are,” Charlize explained.

She added, “Outside of [work], I’m an Uber driver, chauffeuring them to activities all day. In the moment, I’m like, “I hope you guys remember this.’ They’re like, ‘Remember what?’”

Though her family life is kept largely private, Charlize has shared glimpses of her parenting philosophy, her challenges, and the deep bond she shares with her children. Continue reading to learn more about the beautiful girls who bring tears to the actress’s eyes.

Meet Jackson and August

Charlize adopted her elder daughter, Jackson, in 2012 and her second daughter, August, in 2015. S. Since then, the actress has worked tirelessly to create an environment where her girls can grow up feeling supported, loved, and proud of who they are.

Despite being an A-list actress, Charlize recognized early on the complexities of raising children in the public eye. “I so wish that I could be the woman that I am and do the job I do and still fully, fully protect my children from all of that […],” she said.

Acknowledging the challenges her daughters face growing up with a famous parent, she expressed hope that their unique upbringing would shape them into “the characters and people they need to be.”

Charlize’s eldest daughter made headlines when the actress revealed she is transgender. The star shared that Jackson expressed her gender identity at a young age. “Yes, I thought she was a boy, too,” she recalled. “Until she looked at me when she was three years old and said, ‘I am not a boy.’”

Charlize immediately embraced her daughter’s identity, stating, “They were born who they are […]. My job as a parent is to celebrate them and to love them and to make sure that they have everything they need in order to be what they want to be.”

The “Atomic Blonde” star also made it a point to publicly advocate for Jackson’s correct pronouns, especially as she noticed media coverage using incorrect ones.

“I feel like as her mother, for me, it was important to let the world know that I would appreciate it if they would use the right pronouns for her,” she shared.

Charlize also spoke about Jackson transitioning to middle school, reflecting on how quickly children grow. “My oldest just went to middle school and it was literally, it was so sad. I was like, ‘Where’s my baby?’” the star shared in a Q&A in 2023.

“And she was like, ‘Mom, please don’t look, Mom, don’t hug me.’ I was like, ‘Can I hug you?’ She’s like, ‘No, no.’ Oh my god. It’s like a whole different game,” she continued.

This followed the Hollywood star’s failed attempt at homeschooling her older daughter — at least according to Jackson. “I [thought] I [was doing] a great job until my 8-year-old was like, ‘Mom, I don’t think you’re very good at this. I don’t think you’re a good teacher,’” Charlize recalled.

Raising two Black daughters as a white South African woman further presented its own learning curve. Charlize acknowledged that she didn’t always have all the answers, but actively sought out guidance from a network of strong Black women.

“I am so grateful to the incredible village of strong Black women in my life who I can pick up a phone to, or come over to my house […]. So they put me in my place, and because of them I feel this great confidence in raising my girls,” the actress admitted.

From tips about hair care to instilling pride in their heritage, Charlize leaned on her community to help her daughters feel confident in who they are. “Building confidence for them right now is an oath I made to myself when I brought them home. They need to know where they come from and be proud of that,” she stated.

The actress has also prioritized an open line of communication with her daughters, admitting, “I’ve always wanted to have an open conversation with my kids, and I want them to feel like they can come and talk to me about anything.”

When her children bring up sensitive or “inappropriate” topics, she makes a conscious effort to stay calm and approachable. “[…] I always think, ‘Don’t be stern. Just be cool because they feel safe enough to bring this to you,’” she revealed.

Despite her high-profile career, Charlize described her day-to-day life as remarkably grounded. Her children have also provided her with endless moments of joy. “My kids make me laugh like nobody’s business,” she shared.

In March, the South African native took to Instagram to share snaps of her trip to Disney World with Jackson and August, and one social media user shared in reaction to the post, “Your girls are so beautiful 💕.” Another person typed, “Cuties!!!” and a third wrote, “Awesome photos.”

Other users commented on how big the actress’s daughters had gotten, with one person writing, “Aw the girls are getting so grown and beautiful like their momma! Enjoy the good weather while you’re here!!!” Another remarked, “The kiddos are growing up so fast 🥹❤.”

Charlize’s involvement in charitable efforts, such as her foundation supporting children in Africa, also serves as a way to inspire her daughters.

“When you’re actually on the ground and you’re not just looking at stats and numbers, and you’re actually seeing faces in front of you, you know for a fact that their lives would have been different if they didn’t have access to [that outreach],” the actress stated.

Raising Jackson and August has been a transformative experience for Charlize Theron, whose love for them shines through in every aspect of her life — from the way she advocates for them to how she celebrates their individuality.

The actress describes motherhood as her most fulfilling role, proving that her greatest audience is those who call her Mom.