Charlize Theron spent four nights in a Los Angeles hospital last week after contracting a violent stomach virus, The National Enquirer claims.

The South African-born star — who won an Academy Award for her role in the biopic Monster - sought medical attention after she began suffering severe abdominal pangs during the final week of June.

Her boyfriend Stuart Townsend took her to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she was diagnosed with a potentially fatal stomach virus it is thought she contracted while traveling out of the country.

“I was scared to death. I had no idea what was happening to her, but this is a woman who never complains, so I knew it had to be serious,” Townsend reportedly told pals.

Charlize was treated with antibiotics and later released.