PARIS — After 20 years together, Dior and Charlize Theron are taking their relationship to the next level.
The longtime face of its bestselling women’s scent J’adore, the South African star is stepping into a new twin role as ambassador for high jewelry and skin care, a first for the French fashion house, WWD has learned exclusively.
“It’s exciting to start this chapter in a longstanding partnership with Dior. Over the past 20 years, it’s been an honor to collaborate creatively with the house as the face of J’adore,” Theron said in a statement.
“I’m proud of all we have been able to create together and to be joining Dior in celebrating the beauty of jewelry and skin care. I’m looking forward to what’s to come,” the Oscar-winning actress added.
It marks the latest shakeup in Dior’s ambassador ranks, following the recent nomination of Spanish singer Rosalía as a global ambassador and face of its new campaign for the Lady Dior handbag.
Theron will be the first Dior ambassador for high jewelry, and is expected to showcase the most exclusive pieces designed by Victoire de Castellane, artistic director of Dior Joaillerie for the last 25 years, sources said.
“Charlize is an icon and is the perfect representation of the alliance between arts, craftsmanship and dreams magnificently embodied by the jewelry created by Victoire de Castellane for the house of Dior,” said Delphine Arnault, chairman and chief executive officer of Christian Dior Couture.
Previously, Dior’s jewelry campaigns have spotlighted its fine jewelry collections, with Elizabeth Debicki coming on board in 2021 to front ads for its La Rose Dior line, and Jenna Ortega repping the Rose des Vents range since last year. Meanwhile, Theron appeared in a campaign for the Dior VIII watch launched in 2011.
She will become the first actress to represent Dior skin care since Sharon Stone, who signed on in 2005 as the face of the company’s Capture brand. That relationship was rocked in 2008 after the “Basic Instinct” star made controversial comments about a huge earthquake in China, prompting Dior China to recall ads featuring Stone, but the contract did not end until 2012.
Charlize Theron
Courtesy of Dior
Véronique Courtois, CEO of Parfums Christian Dior, said Monday’s appointment reflected Theron’s broad appeal.
“Charlize is a member of our family who embodies the Dior spirit that we treasure. Her rare talent, her commitment, and her otherworldly beauty makes her an icon. She is also, and therein lies her genius, truly down to earth. She is a woman who speaks to, and is liked by, other women,” she said.
“It therefore seems natural to reveal her myriad facets at the heart of the Dior world, by celebrating her triumphant femininity into other areas so appreciated by women: skin care on top of jewelry,” Courtois added.
Theron will also strengthen her collaboration with the LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton-owned brand on issues regarding social responsibility, especially women’s empowerment, reflecting her commitments as an activist and founder of the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project, or CTAOP.
The actress was appointed a United Nations Messenger of Peace in 2008, with a focus on the prevention of HIV and the elimination of violence against women.
Theron has been identified with J’adore since 2004, when she signed on as the face of the blockbuster fragrance in the wake of winning the Oscar for Best Actress for playing serial killer Aileen Wuornos in “Monster,” becoming the house’s first celebrity fragrance ambassador.
She subsequently appeared in a series of high-profile campaigns that had her walking on water, ripping off her pearls in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, or interacting with digital avatars of the late Grace Kelly, Marlene Dietrich and Marilyn Monroe.
The most iconic no doubt was the Jean-Baptiste Mondino-lensed spot where she struts toward the camera, shedding her shoes, jewelry and evening gown as she proclaims: “Gold is cold, diamonds are dead, a limousine is a car, don’t pretend, feel what’s real.”
The house is expected to reveal her successor as the face of J’adore at a later date.
Theron has leveraged her relationship with the house to raise funds for the CTAOP, which she founded in 2007 to support a network of educational associations working with the youth of sub-Saharan African countries.
Since 2020, Dior has helped to fund scholarships for the organization’s Youth Leaders Scholarship program through its “Chin Up – Dior stands with women” initiative, and through a capsule collection with South African designer Thebe Magugu. In an interview with WWD in 2020, Theron explained why she felt the need to give back.
“I grew up in South Africa during a time when the HIV and AIDS crisis was taking over my country, and I was watching people in my community die on a daily basis,” she said.
“It really shook me to my core, so when I got to a place where I could give back in a significant way, I knew I wanted to do something to help in the fight against HIV and AIDS and also invest in the health and empowerment of the next generation,” she continued.
“Christian Dior Parfums has been supporting my foundation’s work for years,” Theron said. “It’s been an ideal match, since so much of what Dior stands for and behind really resonates for me. In particular, the celebration of women and the incredible talent, passion and altruism of women.”
Theron has won numerous awards for her film career, which includes roles in “Young Adult,” “Prometheus,” “Mad Max: Fury Road,” “Atomic Blonde” and more recently “Fast X.” In 2024, she will be appear in “The Old Guard 2,” reprising her role as the immortal warrior Andromache of Scythia, aka Andy.