Actress, born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. She began modelling at age 16 and, after coming runner-up in the 1986 Miss USA pageant, decided on a career in acting. She joined the Second City comedy theatre in Chicago before moving to New York City, where she gained a part in the TV series Living Dolls (1989). Her first feature film was Jungle Fever (1991), and later films include The Flintstones (1994), Bulworth (1998), Die Another Day (2002), and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006). In 2002 she made Hollywood history as the first black woman to win an Academy Award for best actress for her role in Monster's Ball.
| Halle Berry | |
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Berry visiting with sailors and Marines during the opening day of Fleet Week New York 2006. |
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| Birth name | Halle Maria Berry |
| Born |
August 14, 1966 (age 40) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Official site | HalleWood.com |
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Academy Awards |
Best Actress, 2001 Monster's Ball |
| Spouse(s) |
David Justice (1992-1996) Eric Benét (2001-2005) |
Halle Maria Berry (born August 14, 1966 in Cleveland, Ohio) is an Emmy, Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning American actress and former fashion model and beauty queen. In 2002, Berry won Best Actress at the Academy Awards for her role in Monster's Ball.
Biography
Early life and career
Berry's parents selected her first name from that of Halle's Department Store, which was then a local landmark in her birthplace of Cleveland, Ohio. Berry, who was African American. Berry's maternal grandmother, Nellie Dicken, was born in Sawley, Derbyshire, England, while her maternal grandfather, Earl Ellsworth Hawkins, was born in Ohio. Berry's parents divorced when she was 4 years old and she subsequently was raised by her mother, a psychiatric nurse. Berry has an older sister, Heidi who was born seven years before her.
In 1989, Berry was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus type 1.
Berry was a popular student at Bedford High School and was a cheerleader, honor society member, editor of the school newspaper, class president and prom queen.
Before becoming an actress, she entered and won several beauty contests, including Miss Ohio USA, Miss Teen All-American, Miss USA (was first runner-up in 1986 to Christy Fichtner of Texas), and Miss World 1986 (as "Miss United States World", she placed sixth in a contest won by Trinidad &
Hollywood career
In the late 1980s, she went to Chicago, to pursue a modeling career as well as acting.
Berry auditioned for a role in an updated Charlie's Angels television series by producer Aaron Spelling.
In 1989, Berry landed the role of brainy Emily Franklin in the short-lived ABC television series Living Dolls (a spin-off of Who's the Boss?). Her first co-starring role was in the film Strictly Business. Another early role Berry played was the villain/friend in the Flintstones movie as "Sharon Stone", in a part rumored to have been intended for Sharon Stone (Berry would later co-star alongside Stone in Catwoman). The year before, Berry really caught the public's attention with her portrayal as a female biracial slave in the TV adaption of Queen: The Story of an American Family, by Alex Haley.
Berry is also known by many comic book fans for her portrayal of the regal mutant Storm in the movie adaptation of the popular comic book series X-Men (2000) and its successful sequels X2: X-Men United (2003) and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006).
In late 2001, Berry appeared as Leticia Musgrove, the wife of an executed murderer, in the film Monster's Ball. The role earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress.
As Bond Girl Jinx in 2002's Die Another Day she famously re-created the scene from Dr. No, bursting from the surf - scantily clad - to be greeted by James Bond, as Ursula Andress did 40 years earlier.
In late 2003, Berry starred in the psychological thriller Gothika opposite Charles S. Dutton, which was the first film that she "carried," i.e., her role was the most important one in the film. Her next lead role was in the film Catwoman, for which she was awarded a "worst actress" Razzie award in 2005, which she actually accepted in person with a sense of humour and recognition that "to be at the top, you must experience the rock bottom".
She has recently (2006) filmed the thriller Perfect Stranger with Bruce Willis and just wrapped shootingThings We Lost in the Fire with Benicio Del Toro.
Berry is also making a transition to behind the scenes work in film and television.
Berry has served many years as the face of Revlon cosmetics and was recently named the new face of Versace.
Personal life
Berry has been married twice. In 2004, after their separation, Berry stated "I want love, and I will find it, hopefully".
As of 2006, she is currently dating Canadian supermodel Gabriel Aubry, who is nine years her junior.
Berry recently revealed to Extra that she plans to adopt children. It has since been speculated that Aubry, who lived in five foster families between the ages of 3 and 18, possibly inspired Berry's interest in adoption.
When speaking on the likelihood of future marriage, Berry stated "I want a relationship because I am a relationship oriented person.
When speaking on the subject of having her own biological child, Berry has recently indicated that she has given thought to Aubry being the father, but that it is too early for that level of commitment involving a biological child between them.
Film Awards
Berry won the best actress Oscar in 2002 for Monster's Ball, becoming the first African American woman to win this award. Berry won an Emmy and a Golden Globe in 1999 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for her portrayal of Dorothy Dandridge in the HBO movie Introducing Dorothy Dandridge. Berry "won" a Razzie for her infamously poor performance in 2004's Catwoman. Berry accepted her award with dignity, saying, "When I was a kid, my mother told me that if you could not be a good loser, then there's no way you could be a good winner" but adding "I hope to God I never see these people again!" Halle Berry won The Hasty Pudding Theatricals Woman of the Year Award for year 2006.Racial self-indentification
Although she is typically considered to be African-American, Berry is actually biracial (her mother is Caucasian and her father is African-American). Berry has stated that her self-identification is a result of the ignorance of her peers and her mother's influence.
Controversy
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The neutrality of this section is disputed. Please see the discussion on the talk page. Berry, who had sustained a head injury, later stated she had no recollection of the accident and pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge. Berry's portrayal of Storm in the X-Men films has provoked some criticism. Some fans of the character of Storm refer to Berry as "HalleStorm" or "movie Storm". Furthermore, there was a rumor that Berry had said that because of a lack of roles for black actors, she was "reduced to" playing a comic book character. Berry and co-star Ian McKellen maintain that she was misquoted. Later Halle Berry would tell Vogue that "I haven't spoken to her about it. Finally in 2006 Bassett told the Times that she spoke with Berry and that "She was hurt, but not only did it hurt her, it hurt me. TriviaIn 2003, Berry was named No. Channel 4 reported in 2006 that Berry has 6 toes on her right foot.FilmographyJungle Fever (1991) Strictly Business (1991) The Last Boy Scout (1991) Boomerang (1992) CB4 (1993) (Cameo) Father Hood (1993) The Program (1993) Losing Isaiah (1995) The Flintstones (1995) Executive Decision (1996) Race the Sun (1996) Girl 6 (1996) (Cameo) The Rich Man's Wife (1996) B*A*P*S (1997) Bulworth (1998) Why Do Fools Fall In Love (1998) Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999) X-Men (2000) Welcome to Hollywood (2000) (documentary) Swordfish (2001) Monster's Ball (2001) Die Another Day (2002) X2 (2003) Gothika (2003) Catwoman (2004) Robots (2005) (voice) X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)Upcoming: Perfect Stranger (2007) Things We Lost in the Fire (2007) Class Act (2008)TV workLiving Dolls (1989) (cancelled after 13 episodes) Knots Landing (cast member in 1991) Queen: The Story of an American Family (1993) (miniseries) Solomon & |
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