From swipes to sparks: Charlize Theron dishes on dating apps and single life

In a recent episode of the popular "Call Her Daddy" podcast, renowned actress Charlize Theron laid bare her thoughts on intimacy, dating and personal autonomy.

The 49-year-old Oscar winner appeared on the podcast to promote her new film "The Old Guard 2".

During the interview, she openly discussed that at this stage in her life, she is embracing her single status and having experiences she had previously missed out on in her younger years.

Theron said her recent escapade, a one-night stand with a 26-year-old, left her exhilarated, describing it as "really f****** amazing".

"I think I’ve had three one-night stands in my life. It’s not my thing, but this one was just … I was in a different place," confessed the "Bombshell" actress. 

She continued to express a renewed confidence regarding her wants and boundaries, stating that she finally feels comfortable being single.

"Marriage is a long-term commitment and I think I want a long-term commitment. I just don't need to get married," Theron clarified. 

Her stance on modern dating revealed her frustrations with the landscape of dating apps.

She lambasted the exclusive dating platform Raya, labelling it a "f****** clown show", and highlighted her hate for clichés often seen in profiles, advising to stay clear of vague job titles, photos featuring exes, and typical "Burning Man" shots.

Despite the challenging dating scene, Theron seems to have found a new pleasure in her sexual experiences: "I’m having the kind of sex I never had in my twenties or my thirties."

Reflecting on her past relationships, she said that she often "lost herself" in them.

"I used to be a person that would watch herself," she noted.

During the podcast, Theron also revisited an incident of sexual harassment involving an unnamed director.

She recounted how he allegedly attempted to make a move on her during a casting audition.

She described being invited to the director’s house under false pretences, only to be met with unwanted advances.

He allegedly answered the door in pyjamas, then proceeded to "put his hand on my knee". She said that she immediately got up and left.

Theron has never said the name of the director.

"I don’t want the story to be about him. It’s not because I’m protecting him or anything ... He got nervous for a little bit. He heard me tell the story, and he knew it was about him, and he wrote me a pretend letter trying to explain his behaviour and how I must have misunderstood it, which is classic, isn’t it? It’s so classic."

Theron continued to claim that the director "panicked" about her going public.

“I won’t even f****** say your name because you know you’re the scumbag. You know it’s you," Theron said.

"If anybody ever asked me about him, I would be completely honest and he knows that. I kind of like that he’s got to be on a hot seat. He doesn’t know when it’s going to come. I kind of like that a little more."

As the conversation unfolded, the single mother of two daughters, Jackson and August, said she maintains that the freedom to opt out of relationships that no longer serve her is paramount to her essence.

Watch Theron’s full interview on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast in the video below.