Charlize Theron is Press Club's Newsmaker for 2004

National Press Club chairman, Ben Rootman, says the nominations were particularly strong during a good news year in 2004, with the Olympics swimming relay team and the 2010 Soccer World Cub bid being strong contenders.

"However, the media impact of Theron's award was tremendous. Apart from appearing on the front page of Time Magazine - a rare achievement for a film star - she was seen and quoted extensively on both electronic and print media internationally, and her media profile during her visit to South Africa, after receiving the award, was tremendous.

"Apart from umpteen appearances on local television and radio shows and in the printed press - Beeld and Pretoria News, for example, published special editions to mark her Oscar Award."

Rootman says besides the Oscar, she was the first South African to win a Golden Globe Award and in the words of President Mbeki " is proof that South Africa as a nation can produce the best in the world."

"So strong did President Mbeki feel about her that he hosted a special function in her honour and included her in the team to persuade FIFA to award the 2010 World Cup tournament to South Africa.

"However, Theron's influence goes further than the Oscar Award. Her business acumen is remarkable. She planned, and co-financed, the production of Monster at least three years ago to ensure that the product is worthy of an Oscar. The Press Club plans to hand the award to her at a ceremony in South Africa.

"All of this from a 28-year-old woman who was not born with the proverbial golden spoon in her mouth. She is an outstanding ambassador for South Africa and an icon for all new South Africans, proving that the will to survive - and prosper - is achievable. She is a worthy receiver of the National Press Club's prestigious Newsmaker of the Year Award for 2004," says Rootman.

The Newsmaker of the Year title is registered in the name of the National Press Club. Previous recipients include President Thabo Mbeki, former Presidents Nelson Mandela and F W de Klerk, Zackie Achmat and the Treatment Action Campaign, the South African Air Force, the National Rugby Team, former cricket captain, the late Hansie Cronjé, the South African Rand and a host of other prominent South Africans.

According to Ster Kinekor, the next films South African's will be able to see Theron in are: 'The Life And Death Of Peter Sellers', which releases on 25 March 2005 and 'Head In The Clouds', which releases on 15 April 2005.