Charlize Theron’s film gives her nightmare

OHMYGOSSIP — Charlize Theron is getting nightmares because of her latest movie role. The actress is producing and starring in the film version of the best-selling thriller Dark Places. In it, she plays Libby Day, a tormented soul who witnessed at age 7 the ruthless slaying of her mother and two sisters, in what appears to be a satanic cult ritual.

The story line hits very close to home for the South African-born actress, who was 15 when she witnessed the slaying of her abusive, booze-swilling dad — by her own mother.

Charlize’s mom grabbed a shotgun and blasted away the man who had threatened their lives duirng drunken rage. The shooting was ruled self-defense and Charlize’s mother, Gerda Maritz, faced no charges.

The actress has called her father’s death “the great tragedy of my life.”

And while the 38-year-old has tried to move on from the traumatic experience, she’s still haunted by the incident, says the source.

“Charlize finds the Dark Places project troubling but somewhat cleansing, because it’s bringing up a lot of the gruesome memories that she’s long blocked out,” said the source.

“She’s having a hard time with it, but dealing with it. She says she’s making this film for every child who’s gone through and moved on from a terrible tragedy like the one she had to endure.”