Breaking New Ground

Charlize calls her boyfriend of five years, Stuart Townsend, "the best thing that's ever happened to me." She credits Stuart with dispelling many of the relationship fears she had before they met, "like not being able to be an individual...feeling like I couldn't be successful in my career and be successful in a relationship." Instead, Charlize explains her beau was "so secure within himself; so encouraging for me to be an individual."

Charlize says Stuart is also her best friend. "He's just incredible in so many ways," says Charlize. "I mean, five years later I still can't stop talking to him. You know? We sit at a dinner and we can't get enough of each other's conversation. And we like making out!"