Posted on 01/27/2005 3:18:57 PM PST by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
When she became the first black woman to win the best actress Oscar, Halle Berry hoped she would be the first of many.
Three years on, however, no woman has repeated her success.
So Miss Berry, 38, has launched a savage attack on Hollywood producers and directors, accusing them of racial prejudice.
"The struggle for a woman of colour to find good material is still very present, and it's a struggle I fight every day," she said.
Miss Berry said there was such a shortage of decent roles on offer that she had resorted to buying the rights of books she wanted to develop into films.
The actress, who was honoured in 2002 for her role in Monster's Ball as the wife of a prisoner on Death Row, has four such projects in development.
'Called a nigger'
"I try to make the best out of what comes to me but it's going to be about making my own reality really," she added.
"I've been called a nigger straight to my face . . . but there's also much more subtle insidious ways that racism occurs here in Hollywood.
"I don't care what anyone says - they may think it doesn't exist, but it's usually those who aren't black who think that."
When she accepted her Oscar, Miss Berry made it clear she saw it as a breakthrough.
In an emotional speech, she said: "This is for every nameless, faceless woman of colour that now has a chance because this door, tonight, has been opened. Tonight the glass ceiling has been broken and I hope that it is shattered forever."
Jamie Foxx tipped for Oscar
Her comments came before today's announcement of this year's Academy Award nominations, when no woman from an ethnic minority is expected to be in the running for best actress and supporting actress.
Black male actors, however, could enjoy record success, with Don Cheadle, for Hotel Rwanda, and Morgan Freeman, for Million Dollar Baby, hot tips for honours at the awards ceremony on February 27.
Jamie Foxx, who last week won a Golden Globe for best actor in a musical for Ray, is the firm favourite for the best actor Oscar for his portrayal of soul legend Ray Charles.
Previously, best actor Oscars have gone to Denzel Washington, who won alongside Miss Berry in 2002 for his role in Training Day, and Sidney Poitier for Lilies of the Field in 1963.
The only black actresses to win best supporting actress Oscars are Whoopi Goldberg for Ghost in 1990 and Hattie McDaniel for Gone With The Wind in 1939.
Despite her anger at film bosses, Miss Berry, whose mother was born in Liverpool, is believed to be the world's highest-paid black actress.
She earned £25million for appearances in Gothika, X-Men 2 and Catwoman.
Another title bestowed on her was sexiest Bond girl for playing Jinx in the most recent 007 adventure, Die Another Day in 2002.
Her personal life, however, has been blighted by two broken marriages and violence from an ex-boyfriend, which left her partially deaf.
She recently divorced Eric Benet after he admitted cheating on her with a dozen other women.
What exactly doesn't she get? Where are all these roles for black women? I'm not taking her victim posture, but who are all these black female stars and where are the roles they're playing? I'm just asking for a simple factual repost proving she's wrong and showing there are good, substantive roles for black women. Whatever I may think about that, it's the subject at hand, and she does have a point about there not being many roles for her--I mean, Catwoman and Gothika are garbage.
She's saying she's had to do so because of racism. Think of the kind of upstanding, moral people who make up Hollywood -- are you so sure she's not right? And if she's right, don't you think she has a responsibility to speak out against it?
It won't even win that "honor," thanks to Alexander.
The movie may have stunk, but I really like the 'IDEA" of the movie. Halle Barry as Catwoman---how bad could it possibly be?
I guess you at least have the courage to admit it...was this your coming out?
No-I don't think she's right. I haven't really noticed a lack of black faces on TV or in the movies either one for several decades now. Have you??
Let's see, she stars in a movie that barely rates above "Plan 9 From Outer Space", and then has the audacity to blame the role, rather than the actor.
Sounds like Oliver Stone blaming the audience for not appreciating his crappy, over-priced, gay "Alexander" flick.
Yep, it's the audience's fault and the writer's fault. It's never the actor's or the director's fault.
Not my type, either.
I saw the promos on the TV Guide channel with an interview of Berry. (FWIW, TVGC does horrible promotions, imho).
Her personality is one of her problems. While she is [currently] eye-candy, I don't find her particularly "sexy".
Wasn't Salma Hayek whinning about the lack of Mexican roles last year?
In the case of Catwoman, she does have a valid point. Having said that, she has no one to blame but herself for not running away screaming from that stinker.
Life is...
"Eric cheated on her with a dozen other women? He must be blind."
Either that or Halle is a real bitch. Her own sister doesn't even bother with her.
Well the lives of the GREAT BLACK SINGERS who were also
LOOKERS like Lena Horn and Billy Holiday have already
been done. Don't suppose Halle would be much interested
in replicating the roles of Hattie McDaniels or Ethel
Waters; but she could opt for some bio-script based on
the life of Dorothy Dandridge (been done, too) or Diahann
Carroll. HOw about schmoozing Diana Ross into letting
you do HER LIFE, Halle!? Now THAT one's got real Oscar potential!
I haven't seen many black women in movies, which is what she's talking about. Whoopi Goldberg, who I avoid. Halle Berry. Aaliyah in "Queen of the Damned" and "Romeo Must Die" (both of which I had the good fortune not to see). Ummm .... Shari Headley in "Coming to America".... Nichelle Nichols (Uhura) in Star Trek .... I'm sure there's lots of others I'm missing....?
Latifah's making a splash of late.
I like Queen Latifah.
Halle Berry is black?
Just learning that life isn't all about you, are you?
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