Charlize Theron has auctioned a date with herself for charity

The 35-year-old actress – who has been single since splitting from long-term boyfriend Stuart Townsend earlier this year – offered to attend a Los Angeles Lakers basketball game with whoever bid the highest for a pair of court-side tickets at a fundraiser in New York last night (06.12.10).

A source who attended the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project dinner and auction at the Darby Restaurant told gossip website Just Jared: “All the men in the room were doubling the bids on the courtside Lakers tickets if Charlize attended the game with them. She agreed to attend for $20,000.”

The ‘Monster’ actress launched her charity – which aims to create safer and healthier lives for at-risk children and communities in South Africa, especially those affected by HIV and Aids – in 2007.

Charlize’s close pal Liv Tyler attended the event to see her friend being auctioned off for charity.

Other celebrities who attended included ‘Mad Men’ actor Jon Hamm and wife Jennifer Westfeldt, James Blunt’s former girlfriend Petra Nemcova and fellow model Irina Shayk, while ‘Jackass’ star Johnny Knoxville brought his new wife Naomi Nelson.

Charlize took a break from movies last year to focus on her Africa Outreach Project but is currently filming ‘Young Adults’ with Jason Reitman in New York.

Source: BANG Showbiz

Charlize Theron

It is rumoured that Charlize Theron has split from her partner of nine years.

The actress – who first met Stuart Townsend on the set of ‘Trapped’ in 2001 – has told friends she split from the Irish actor after a trip to Mexico over the Christmas period, and has now stopped wearing an antique commitment ring he had given her as a sign of his love.

A friend of the couple said: “Stuart is gutted but Charlize said that she realised during the Mexican holiday the relationship was over. They had become more like brother and sister than lovers. It was she who ended it.”

The 34-year-old Hollywood actress is now reportedly living in their main home in the Hollywood Hills, while he has moved his belongings into their beach house.

A source told the Mail on Sunday newspaper: “She loved Stuart but their relationship ran its course. He is heartbroken but she is insisting it is over. Charlize was surprised the story hadn’t come out yet. But she didn’t confirm it because she wanted to break the news in her own time.”

Stuart has previously spoken about how he considered Charlize to be his wife, even though they’d never married.

He said: “I didn’t do a church wedding or anything but we consider ourselves husband and wife. I don’t need a certificate or the state or the church to say otherwise.”

A spokesman for Charlize said last night (30.01.10): “I never comment on her personal life.”

Source: BANG Showbiz