Winter Olympics 2026: Why is Charlize Theron speaking out for peace at Milano Cortina 2026?

The athletes were the undoubted centre of attention at the Friday (6 February) Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, but South African-American movie star Charlize Theron made a surprise appearance at the Milano San Siro Stadium.

The Mad Max: Fury Road star delivered an emotional monologue against war as part of the wider themes of harmony and global unity woven into the Opening Ceremony.

The 50-year old Theron's appearance is keeping in tradition with the Olympic Opening Ceremony, which often brings together artists and figures from outside the world of sport to reflect universal values.

It's not Theron's first dance with the Olympic Games. In 2024, she co-hosted a “Prelude to the Olympic Games” event at Paris 2024 alongside tennis star Serena Williams.

Born in South Africa, Theron is no stranger to Milano, venue of the Opening Ceremony. She and her mother lived in the city for a year when she was 17 and working her way up as a model, before moving to the United States to pursue acting.

One of the movies that shot her to fame, the 2003 release of The Italian Job, had its early scenes filmed on location in the European country.

Beyond her film career, The Old Guard star has spent more than two decades as a committed humanitarian. In 2007, she founded the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project, an organisation dedicated to supporting the health, education and safety of young people in southern Africa, with a particular focus on HIV/AIDS prevention and gender-based violence.

A year later, she was appointed a United Nations Messenger of Peace, using her platform to advocate for youth empowerment and public health initiatives on a global stage.

Theron has repeatedly spoken out against violence, inequality and discrimination.

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