At the age of 16, Charlize Theron traveled to Milan, Italy, on a one-year modeling contract, after winning a local competition. Charlize Theron contract ended while Charlize Theron was in New York City, and Charlize Theron decided to remain there, attending the Joffrey Ballet School, where Charlize Theron trained as a ballet dancer. A knee injury closed this career path when Charlize Theron was 18.
Unable to dance, Charlize Theron bought a ticket to Los Angeles. After eight months in the city, Charlize Theron was cast in her first film part, a non-speaking role in the direct-to-video film Children of the Corn III. Charlize Theron followed this with larger roles in widely released Hollywood films, and Charlize Theron career skyrocketed in the late 1990s, with box office successes like The Devil's Advocate, The Cider House Rules, and Mighty Joe Young.
The May 1999 issue of Playboy published nude photos of Charlize Theron, taken during the early years of Charlize Theron modeling career. Claiming they had been "for private use", Charlize Theron ended up suing photographer Guido Argentini.