CHARLIZE THERON - CHARLIZE READY TO WED?

OSCAR winner CHARLIZE THERON is poised to marry her longterm love this summer (04), just months after categorically denying plans to wed.

The MONSTER beauty, 28, has been dating Irish hunk STUART TOWNSEND since they met on the set of 2002 thriller TRAPPED.

But when pressed about their marriage plans at this year's (04) glitzy ACADEMY AWARDS celebrations, Charlize merely laughed off suggestions they were ready to get hitched, insisting they don't need a formal ceremony to cement their relationship.

But a close friend of South African Theron says a romantic ceremony is being planned in the next few months and Charlize's family have been put on "standby".

The source adds, "The place and date are secret but it will definitely be this summer."