Actress Charlize Theron poses at the 2008 MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles June 1, 2008.[Agencies]

Charlize Theron says lust is just as important as love. The Oscar-winning actress - who has been with boyfriend Stuart Townsend for around six years - believes passion plays a big part in her relationship and she couldn't live without it.

She said: "I think I need a bit of both love and lust. I've been in situations where I have cared about someone, but there wasn't that fire, and that is important. "It's chemistry and I don't know why one person does it for me rather than another. It's the mystery of life and love." Charlize also believes fate played a part in her relationship with Stuart. The blonde star, who met Stuart when filming 'Trapped' in 2002, said: "We met on set and we liked each other.

It was like, 'You are awesome, and I'm never going to see you again.' But somehow we always ended up in the same places. I was in London working, and we were sitting in his apartment drinking wine, and before I knew it we were packing up his apartment and he was moving to Los Angeles. Someone wanted us to be together."