Theron's nightmare modelling experience

A young Charlize Theron nearly gave up her modelling career after falling off a camel and dislocating her jaw as a teenager.

The Monster star, who began her career as a model, was in Morocco for one of her first fashion shoots, which went horribly wrong when the camel she was riding grew impatient and threw her off.

Theron tells talk show host Jay Leno, "I had one horrible experience. I was about 16 years old. I did a job in Morocco and they were shooting me on this camel and the sun was setting... And the photographer wanted this camel right in this one position.

"So this little dude is, like, walking this camel over and over to hit the same position and finally the camel just said, 'No more,' and decided that was it and threw me off - like bucked me off him.

"And by then the sun had set, it was dark, and I guess I was so shaken up that I was like, 'No, no, no, I'm fine.' And then we were walking back to this little tent that they had set up and I was like, 'Ugh, my ears are hurting.' Long story short, the camel had hit its head back into my face and dislocated my jaw and I had no idea. I came home with X-rays. My mom was like, 'Can you go away and not come back with X-rays or something in a cast?'"

And the actress admits she has no desire to return to modelling, adding, "I'm gonna stick with this (acting) job I think."