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Charlize Theron has a new role – not in a movie, but for the United Nations.

The Oscar-winning actress has been named an Ambassador of Peace by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

“You have used your voice, compassion and special relationship with the public to create a better world,” the secretary general said in his announcement Friday.

Theron was recognized for her support of social issues, including the creation of a project aimed at promoting HIV/AIDS education in South Africa, where the now-American citizen was born and raised.

Her new role will focus on ending violence against women, a topic with special significance to the actress. When she was 15, she witnessed her mother fatally shoot her father in self-defence when he attacked her.

Theron will be officially appointed Monday in a ceremony in New York City. She is the UN’s 10th peace envoy, joining such well-known figures as George Clooney and Michael Douglas.

Theron won an Oscar for 2003’s “Monster,” and has since starred in “North Country,” “In The Valley of Elah” and “Hancock,” among others.

Both Charlize Theron and “Ugly Betty” cutie David Blue were robbed over the weekend.

The New York Post reported that Theron was out of town while her Hollywood home was burglarized. “No suspects were seen, and we don’t have a list property taken yet,” LAPD officer Sara Faden said.

Blue, who plays Cliff on “Ugly Betty,” however, was not as lucky as to be absent from the scene of the crime. He was mugged at gunpoint after the “Betty” Season 2 wrap party, also in Hollywood. Blue wrote about the experience in his
MySpace blog, saying he was very angry but glad he was able to keep a cool head in the moment.

“There’s a sad part of me that is just happy that I got away alive and that my friend wasn’t hurt. There’s another sad part of me that is happy they got me and not America Ferrera, Michael Urie, Judith Light or anybody else at the party with WAY more money than myself. There’s another sad part of me that is so angry that I just want to see these people put behind bars as soon as possible. It’s sad how quickly your life can be affected… and even more sad how angry a few people’s SAD choices can affect people’s lives.

“It bothers me that this was Hollywood. I’ve lived in New York, Astoria, Queens, Florida, Kentucky, Virginia, Texas, all over… and this crap happened in the heart of Hollywood near a MAJOR intersection. I’m just glad we were smart enough to hand over our money so quickly. Because I can tell you, even with a gun in my face, my first reaction was to nail this guy in the face with as many punches as I could muster… but instead I looked at my female friend and realized it’d be better to hand over my wallet and call the police.”

Blue later edited the entry, thanking fans for listening to him vent, and urging them to be careful on the streets.

Just 30 years old and still a newcomer to the acting world, Charlize Theron was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Thursday.

The South African moved to Los Angeles about 10 years ago, and was spotted by a talent agent while yelling at a cashier.

She started out with under whelming roles in That Thing You Do and Mighty Joe Young, before getting her first real big break in The Cider House Rules.

She became an A-list star in 2003, with her Oscar-winning role in Monster.

Theron is a fantastic actress, but she has her whole career ahead of her still. Why would they give her the honour so early in her career?

Well look ahead two weeks to October 14, the day her latest film, North Country, comes out.

A little known fact about the Walk of Fame: it’s a sham. Stars are not voted on by an elite group of people, like they are with Canada’s Walk of Fame. In Hollywood, stars are bought for you. They cost a few thousand dollars each, but think of the great publicity you get.

Hey, I mentioned North Country’s release date, didn’t I?