Check out our Halle Berry fan site!

Halle Berry

Halle Berry played in Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope (in 2005) as Herself with actor Kevin Spacey (acting Himself).

Halle Berry

Halle Maria Berry (born August 14, 1966 in Cleveland, Ohio) is an Academy Award-winning actress and model.

 

Biography

Early life and career

Halle on the Dec 2002 cover of VogueHalle Berry was named after Halle's Department Store, a local landmark in Cleveland, Ohio. She is the daughter of Judith Ann Hawkins, a caucasian of English ancestry, and Jerome J. Berry, who is 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-ward nurse. She also has an older sister, Heidi.

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. She worked in the children's department at Higbee's Department Store. Her personality, as described by a co-worker, was expressed in these terms..."I can hardly believe how sweet and nice she had been to everyone. People who weren't half as beautiful as she did not display the kind of inner beauty she exhibited." She subsequently attended Cuyahoga Community College.

Before becoming an actress, she entered several beauty contests, including Miss Ohio USA, Miss Teen All American, Miss USA (first runner-up in 1986) and Miss World.

 

Hollywood career

In the late 1980s, she went to Chicago to pursue a modeling career as well as acting. One of her first acting projects was a television series for local cable by Gordon Lake Productions called "Chicago Force."

Berry auditioned for a role in an updated Charlie's Angels television series by producer Aaron Spelling. At the time, Spelling wanted one of the "Angels" to be a African American woman. She did not get the role (because the project never materialized) but she impressed Spelling with her skills, encouraging her to continue perfecting her craft.

In 1989, Berry landed the role of brainy Emily Franklin in the short-lived ABC television series Living Dolls (which was a spin-off of Who's the Boss?). Her breakthrough feature film role was in Spike Lee's Jungle Fever where she played a drug addict named Vivian. Her first co-starring role was in the film Strictly Business. Another one of her early roles was in a supporting capacity in the Flintstones movie where she played "Sharon Stone" (a part rumored to have been intended for Sharon Stone). The year before, Berry really caught the public's attention with her portrayal as a female slave in the TV adaption of Queen: The Story of an American Family.

Berry is also known by most comic book fans for her portrayal of Storm in the movie adaptation of the successful comic book X-Men (2000) and its successful sequel X2: X-Men United (2003). Berry will reprise her role again in the third installment X-Men 3 scheduled for a May 2006 release. In late 2003 Berry starred in the thriller Gothika, which was the first film that she "carried," i.e., her role was the most important one in the film.

 

Marriages

Berry has been married twice. Her first marriage in 1992 to baseball player David Justice ended in a 1996 divorce due to infidelity. Her second marriage in 2001 to musician Eric Benét has resulted in a 2004 separation (and 2005 divorce) reportedly due to Benét's infidelity. She has said that she will never marry again. Although she does not have any children herself, she is close to her step-daughter India from her marriage to Benét and is also rumored that she is pregnant by her current boyfriend (Michael Ealy). Berry does have two Maltese dogs: Miss Polly and Little Willie.

Halle Berry meet hot-shot attorney at a prestigious entertainment law firm, Kevin Hill a star on the rise. He commands attention in the courtroom and at the hottest clubs in New York City. Then she realize that life woudlnt be complete without dating Kevin R. Hill. They meet in the Four Season Hotel in Maui. Their love has continue to carry on. They later married in 2002, in a romantic ceremony in the Hamptons. Kevin Hill and Halle Berry had three childern Mercedes 7, Porsche 3, and Alexus 2. Since then they have lived happily ever after Mailbu, California.

 

Film Awards

Halle Berry at the Academy AwardsBerry 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 in 1999 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for her portayal of Dorothy Dandridge in the HBO movie Introducing Dorothy Dandridge. Interestingly, Dorothy Dandridge was the first African American woman to be nominated for a best actress Academy Award. Another similarity the two women shared was being born in the same hospital.
Berry won a Razzie for her starring role in 2004's Catwoman. She made headlines by accepting her award in person, an unusual gesture that was last performed by Tom Green in 2001. 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!" shortly afterward. At the podium, she appeared with her Razzie in one hand, and her 2002 Oscar in the other.
Halle Berry meethot-shot attorney at a prestigious entertainment law firm, Kevin Hill a star on the rise. He commands attention in the courtroom and at the hottest clubs in New York City. Then she realize that life woudlnt be complete without dating Kevin R. Hill. They meet in the Four Season Hotel in Maui. Their love has continue to carry on. They later married in 2002, in a romantic ceremony in the Hamptons. Kevin Hill and Halle Berry had three childern Mercedes 7, Porsche 3, and Alexus 2. Since then they have lived happily ever after Mailbu, California.

 

Controversy

In February 2000, she was involved in a car accident when she struck another vehicle after running a red light and left the scene before the police arrived. Berry, who had sustained a head injury, later stated she had no recollection of the accident and pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge. She paid a fine, made restitution to the other driver, performed community services, and was placed on three years’ probation.
Having long refused to do any nude scenes, much was made of her first topless scene in the film Swordfish, a thirty-second scene for which she allegedly was paid an additional US$500,000. She followed this with a more extended nude love scene in Monster's Ball. Her appearance in this film won her the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2002. 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.

Trivia

In 2003, Berry was named in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women in the World poll.
Also in 2003, Berry was on Punk'd, MTV's celebrity prank show.
She has diabetes and acquired unilateral hearing loss (80% hearing loss in one ear) after being severely beaten by a former boyfriend. Accounts differ as to whether the abusive boyfriend was Wesley Snipes or Christopher Williams.
She is currently living with her boyfriend Michael Ealy of Barbershop fame.

Filmography

Jungle Fever (1991)
Strictly Business (1991)
The Last Boy Scout (1991)
Boomerang (1992)
CB4 (1993) (Cameo)
Father Hood (1993)
The Program (1993)
The Flintstones (1994)
Losing Isaiah (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)
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 3 (2006) (currently filming)
Perfect Stranger (2006) (currently announced start of production)

TV work

Living Dolls (1989) (canceled after 13 episodes)
Knots Landing (cast member in 1991)
Queen: The Story of an American Family (1993) (miniseries)
Solomon & Sheba (1995)
The Wedding (1998)
Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999) (also executive producer)
Their Eyes Were Watching God (2005)
robots 2005
x-men 32006

Gothika
A whydunit, rather than whodunit, to do with a beautiful prison psychologist who is flabbergasted to wake up in a cell herself, with no memory of having chopped up her beefy husband three days earlier, and only ..... Read more

Eartha Kitt: Cat, Not a Gig: Roger Catlin | TV Eye
I got off to a bad start the time I interviewed Eartha Kitt. Asking her about an upcoming gig at Foxwoods Casino in 1995, she hissed, "I am not a gig!" Well, no... Read more

Read Black TV in Social Studies
I figured that's right up my alley, and, post-election, I'm still pretty gung-ho about Change, and I'm all Yes, We Can, so I go to the ol' NAACP web page to read the whole thing... Read more

Women to the rescue in comic-book land
Batman, Superman, Iron Man, Spider-Man-all did big box-office business. And all have the word man in them... Read more

Complete Movie List

MovieYearPlays
Who Is Doris Payne?2008Doris Payne
Class Act2008Tierney Cahill
Tulia2008
Perfect Stranger2007Rowena Price
Things We Lost in the Fire2007Audrey Burke
Just Another Day2006Herself
Cannes 2006: Crónica de Carlos Boyero2006Herself
Legends Ball2006Herself
Celebrity Debut2006Herself
"iVillage Live"2006Herself - Guest
X-Men: The Last Stand2006Ororo Munroe/Storm
Cosmetic Surgery Nightmares2006Herself
Premiere Bond: Opening Nights2006Herself
"Mañanas de Cuatro, Las"2006Herself
Forbes Celebrity 100: Who Made Bank?2006Herself
78th Annual Academy Awards, The2006Herself, in opening segment
This Film Is Not Yet Rated2006Leticia Musgrove
Boffo! Tinseltown's Bombs and Blockbusters2006Jinx
WIN Awards, The2005Herself
Making of 'Robots', The2005Herself
Many Faces of Catwoman, The2005Herself
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards '052005Herself
57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, The2005Herself - Nominee: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Mini-Series or Made for TV Movie, Outstanding Made for TV Movie/Presenter
Robots2005Cappy
62nd Annual Golden Globe Awards, The2005Herself - Presenter: Film Clip from "Finding Neverland"
77th Annual Academy Awards, The2005Herself - Presenter: Best Art Direction
Teen Choice Awards 2005, The2005Herself - Attendee
Their Eyes Were Watching God2005Janie Starks
Artemis Fowl2005Holly Short
Assembling 'Robots': The Magic, the Music, & the Comedy2005Herself
Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope2005Herself
BET Awards 20052005Herself
101 Biggest Celebrity Oops2004Herself - #83: Halle Berry: Accidents Will Happen
"Grand journal de Canal+, Le"2004Herself
"Greatest Canadian, The"2004Herself
Catwoman2004Patience Phillips/Catwoman
"Tavis Smiley"2004Herself
Making of 'Catwoman', The2004Herself
"Insider, The"2004Herself
2004 MTV Movie Awards2004Herself - Presenter
52 Most Irresistible Women2004Herself
"Miradas 2"2004Herself
John Travolta: The Inside Story2004Herself
Uncanny Suspects, The2003Herself
101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment2003Herself
"Style Star"2003Herself
Women on Top: Hollywood and Power2003Herself
X-Factor: The Look of 'X-Men'2003Herself
Celebrity Naked Ambition2003
Christmas from Hollywood2003Herself
X-Men Production Scrapbook2003Herself
MTV Europe Music Awards 20032003Jinx
X22003Storm/Ororo Munroe
34th NAACP Image Awards2003Herself
"200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons"2003Herself
"4Pop"2003Herself
"Love Chain"2003Herself
60th Annual Golden Globe Awards, The2003Herself - Presenter: Best Motion Picture [Drama
"Celebrities Uncensored"2003Herself
Spike Lee's '25th Hour': The Evolution of an American Filmmaker2003Herself
75th Annual Academy Awards, The2003Herself - Presenter: Best Actor in a Leading Role/Past winner
Gothika2003Miranda Grey
"Pulse"2003Herself
"Punk'd"2003Herself
Hollywood Celebrates Denzel Washington: An American Cinematheque Tribute2003Herself
Inside 'Die Another Day'2003Herself
TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV2003Herself
Bond Girls Are Forever2002Herself
2002 ABC World Stunt Awards2002Herself
"Tinseltown TV"2002Herself
Orange British Academy Film Awards, The2002Herself
Premiere Bond: Die Another Day2002Herself
De Superman à Spider-Man: L'aventure des super-héros2002Storm
Die Another Day2002Jinx
"Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway"2002Herself
54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, The2002Herself
Die Another Day: From Script to Screen2002Herself
Essence Awards2002Herself
59th Annual Golden Globe Awards, The2002Herself
Shaken and Stirred on Ice2002Herself
"Movie House"2002Herself
74th Annual Academy Awards, The2002Herself - Winner: Best Actress in a Leading Role/Presenter: Best Sound & Best Sound Effects Editing
James Bond: A BAFTA Tribute2002Herself
"Good Day Live"2001Herself
Monster's Ball2001Leticia Musgrove
32nd NAACP Image Awards2001Herself
Concert for New York City, The2001Herself
"Bernie Mac Show, The"2001Herself
73rd Annual Academy Awards, The2001Herself - Presenter: song 'My Funny Friend and Me'
Swordfish2001Ginger Knowles
Great Streets: The Champs Elysees with Halle Barry2001Herself
Headliners & Legends: Halle Berry2001Herself
America: A Tribute to Heroes2001Herself
"Revealed with Jules Asner"2001Herself
"Richard & Judy"2001Herself
"Friday Night with Jonathan Ross"2001Herself
Welcome to Hollywood2000Herself
2000 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards2000Herself
2000 MTV Movie Awards2000Herself - Presenter
X-Men2000Ororo Munroe/Storm
31st NAACP Image Awards2000Herself
52nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, The2000Herself
"Rove Live"2000Herself
Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, The1999Herself
30th NAACP Image Awards1999Herself
"Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, The"1999Herself
51st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, The1999Herself
Introducing Dorothy Dandridge1999Dorothy Dandridge
"Screensavers, The"1998Herself
Wedding, The1998Shelby Coles
Bulworth1998Nina
"T4"1998Herself
Why Do Fools Fall in Love1998Zola Taylor
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies1998Herself
Christmas Miracles1997Herself
"View, The"1997Herself
"Leute heute"1997Herself
"Behind the Music"1997Herself
"Bl!tz"1997Herself
"Corazón de..."1997Herself
B*A*P*S1997Nisi
Celebrate the Dream: 50 Years of Ebony Magazine1996Herself
Race the Sun1996Miss Sandra Beecher
Rich Man's Wife, The1996Josie Potenza
Executive Decision1996Jean, Flight Attendant
"Mundo VIP"1996Herself
Girl 61996Herself
"Daily Show, The"1996Herself
"E! True Hollywood Story"1996Herself
"Rosie O'Donnell Show, The"1996Herself
1st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards1995
Losing Isaiah1995Khaila Richards
"Intimate Portrait"1995Herself
"Mad TV"1995Host
Solomon & Sheba1995Nikhaule/Queen Sheba
"HBO First Look"1994Herself
"Hollywood Women"1994Herself
Flintstones, The1994Rosetta Stone
"Century of Women, A"1994
"Dennis Miller Live"1994Herself
"Extra"1994Herself
CB41993Herself
25th NAACP Image Awards1993Herself/Presenter
"Late Night with Conan O'Brien"1993Herself
"Late Show with David Letterman"1993Herself
Program, The1993Autumn Haley
Father Hood1993Kathleen Mercer
"Queen"1993Queen
"Frasier"1993Betsy
"GMTV"1993Herself
Boomerang1992Angela Lewis
"Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The"1992Herself
MTV Video Music Awards 19921992Herself
"Martin"1992Herself
Last Boy Scout, The1991Cory
Strictly Business1991Natalie
Jungle Fever1991Vivian
"They Came from Outer Space"1990Rene
"Word, The"1990Herself
"Live with Regis and Kathie Lee"1989Herself
"Living Dolls"1989Emily Franklin (1989)
"This Morning"1988Herself
"Seitenblicke"1987Herself
"Biography"1987Herself
"Different World, A"1987Jaclyn
"Amen"1986Claire
"Oprah Winfrey Show, The"1986Herself
"Entertainment Tonight"1981Herself
"Knots Landing"1979Debbie Porter (1991)
"Good Morning America"1975Herself
"Saturday Night Live"1975Host
"Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The"1962Herself