Charlize Theron Says She’s Never Dated Before

Charlize Theron insists she has never casually dated. The Oscar winning actress was in a long term relationship with Stuart Townsend until the beginning of 2010 when the couple called it quits – they were together for almost 9 years, and before that, Charlize says she was in one or two other serious relationships, so for around 20 years has never dated. Now, for the first time she has found herself single:

“I don’t think I’ve actually been on a date with somebody I didn’t know. I’ve been on dates with my boyfriend of course but I’ve never really dated. I’ve been in serious relationships from the time I was 19 and I’m single for the first time in my life since then. I had to make a real conscious effort to rediscover myself and it’s hard. I’m a creature who has really found her comfort in relationships.”

Speaking about her past relationship with Stuart, Charlize says that she felt it was over once she realized she couldn’t fight for it to work anymore, but believes there is something special and empowering about being single:

“It was sinking but I gave it a fight to try and make it work. That was my priority. I’ve never re-connected with an ex and I feel that once I’m done I’m really done. I’m really at peace and feeling good about it. All of us go through darkness but that doesn’t make you dark. There’s something really powerful in being OK with being alone, especially for women.”

Charlize also reveals that as a teenager she used to be heartbroken when she didn’t have a boyfriend:

“I played the song ‘Tears on my Pillow’ over and over and I felt like it was the end of the world because I didn’t have a boyfriend. It was just so heartbreaking.”