Charlize Theron has spoken candidly about her sex life aged 49

Charlize said: "I did just recently f*** a 26-year-old and it was really f****** amazing.

"I've never done that. And I was like, 'Oh, this is great. OK.'"

Charlize, who was previously in relationships with actor Stuart Townsend from 2001 to 2009 and Sean Penn from 2013 to 2015, told podcast host Alex Cooper she has only had a few one-night stands in her life, but she has no regrets about embracing them now.

"I've probably had three one-night-stands in my entire life," she said - adding: "When I do, I'm like, 'Oh, f*** yeah, I should have done this in my twenties.'"

She went on: "I was married from the time that I was like having sex to the time that I had my last relationship. Then I had children. Who has f****** time for dates and shaving and waxing and makeup? And I've got two children that have to go to school."

The actress also emphasised being single has allowed her to explore sex in a way she hadn't before.

"I'm having sex now for the first time, like I never had before, because I'm not in relationships," she said. Charlize added: "That part has been really exciting. But I'm not missing a relationship. I'm not missing the partnership that I think people think you miss when you're me."

The star also discussed her dating habits, saying while she is technically on dating apps, she doesn't use them often.

"I am on the apps, but I don't use the apps," she said.

"So I have a few friends that are very, very good. One of them I know is listening to this right now, who always is like, 'OK, you need to come here right now and you need to meet this person.'"

She also said the help has recently "paid off tremendously," but admitted she hasn't always taken up her friends' matchmaking offers.

When asked about her most bizarre dating experience, Charlize recalled: "Oh my God. I had a guy once ask me to make out with his nose, which was really, really probably one of the most bizarre asks ever. That was really gross."

She added although she is open to some unusual preferences, she draws the line at certain things. "Nobody's ever asked me to do something that I was like, 'Whoa, that's really f****** weird.' Like, I guess I like weird s***."