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| Mission: Possible! Charlize Theron throws her star power behind HIV and AIDS awareness in home country South Africa |
Charlize Theron is a woman on a mission.
The South African-born beauty has once again put her star power to good use by pledging to help with the fight against HIV and AIDS in her home country.
Meeting with South African President Jacob Zuma in Pretoria on Monday in her capacity as an ambassador for the United Nations program on AIDS, the actress says she believes the potential to usher in an AIDS-free generation is a real possibility under Zuma's leadership.
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Woman on a mission: Charlize Theron joined South African President Jacob Zuma in Pretoria on Monday to talk about efforts to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS in her home country
Woman on a mission: Charlize Theron joined South African President Jacob Zuma in Pretoria on Monday to talk about efforts to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS in her home country
Zuma, who has been President of the 25th largest country in the world since 2009 and, prior to that was the nation's Deputy President from 1999-2005, sang the praises of the actress's efforts in raising awareness.
'Today has been a very special day with this good citizen of ours joining us,' SouthAfrica.info reports him as saying. 'We believe the education of young people goes a long way to prevent any escalation of the disease. That's what Charlize has been doing. We believe the successes we make in South Africa will have a big impact on the continent.'
The pair were also joined by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé at the Unions Building in Pretoria to discuss how to better combat the pandemic.
Star power: The United Nations Messenger Of Peace, who turns 38 on August 7, looked chic and businesslike in a black and white patterned top and black pants
Star power: The United Nations Messenger Of Peace, who turns 38 on August 7, looked chic and businesslike in a black and white patterned top and black pants
Tweeting her excitement prior to heading home on July 26, the star, who goes under the Twitter handle of @CharlizeAfrica, shared, 'Excited 4 the opportunity 2 speak w/President Zuma about helping youth in my home country stay HIV free.'
She then followed it up on Monday with, 'We have to stop the stigma around #HIV. #SouthAfrica #UNAIDS #reachout #CTAOP.'
Speaking to gathered press from her homeland, the mother-of-one said, 'It's always very special to return home and, when I'm able to, lend my support.'
Charlize Theron meets South African president to talk HIV and...
'We can never stop talking about this disease': The star drilled home the importance of being open and honest about the pandemic that is sweeping the nation in a bid to remove the stigma associated with the disease
'We can never stop talking about this disease': The star drilled home the importance of being open and honest about the pandemic that is sweeping the nation in a bid to remove the stigma associated with the disease
However, she added that while progress is being made, there is still a way to go.
'We have come so far in this country with our HIV programme... but we still have challenges,' she admitted. 'We can never stop talking about this disease.'
According to UNAIDS, last year alone, more than eight million HIV tests were administered in the continent, while the number of infections has decreased by 12 per cent over the last two years.
Taking care of business: The star was joined in her talks by (from left) UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé, President Jacob Zuma and Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi
Taking care of business: The star was joined in her talks by (from left) President Jacob Zuma, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé and Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi
Her crowning glory: The single mom-of-one has also revealed that she wielded the clippers when she shaved her head for a role last June, admitting she simply 'buzzed it with a razor'
Her crowning glory: The single mom-of-one has also revealed that she wielded the clippers when she shaved her head for a role last June, admitting she simply 'buzzed it with a razor'
The Snow White And The Huntsman star was made a Messenger Of Peace by the United Nations in 2008, with the goal of promoting efforts to end violence against women.
Meanwhile, the stunning blonde recently revealed she was the one wielding the clippers when she shaved her head for her role in postapocalyptic film Mad Max: Fury Road in June last year.
The movie, which is currently in post-production, stars Tom Hardy in the title role, previously made famous by Mel Gibson, who starred in three Mad Max movies between 1979 and 1985.
No rest for the wicked: The blonde beauty was spotted on the set of a photo shoot in LA on July 24, before jetting off to South Africa
No rest for the wicked: The blonde beauty was spotted on the set of a photo shoot in LA on July 24, before jetting off to South Africa
The star plays Imperator Furiosa in the flick, but unlike Anne Hathaway, whose male hair stylist famously donned a dress to shave her head in last year's Les Misérables, Charlize 'buzzed it with a razor' herself.
Talking to InStyle about her beauty regimen, the 5ft 10in beauty admitted she had no qualms when it came to taking the plunge and hasn't looked back since.
'The more I talked to my director, George Miller, about my character, the more I realised there was no way around it. He didn’t want to be the bad guy and just ask me to do it, so I finally called him and was like, “I need to shave my head, right?”'
Ethereal: Charlize changed into a see-through flowy baby pink dress for the shoot, with her black underwear clearly visible beneath the sheer fabric
Ethereal: Charlize changed into a see-through flowy baby pink dress for the shoot, with her black underwear clearly visible beneath the sheer fabric
As a then-new mom to adopted son Jackson, the star, who turns 38 on August 7, insists the low-maintenance 'do suits her lifestyle.
'I had just finished two press tours and my hair was destroyed from heat damage, so I was glad to get rid of it. I was also a new mom and just loved the idea of not having to style my hair every morning.
'The timing was perfect.'
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