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.
I've read all kinds of magazine articles about Halle Berry and the role of black women in film. I do believe the chief complaint is the lack of LEADING roles. Otherwise, there is a definate increase in 'people of color' on tv and movies no matter what role it is. It's recent, maybe in the last twenty five years but it's great. I don't think this is as much about race is it about people not liking it when rich starlets whine. One of Halle Berry's projects is featuring the daughter of George Schuyler, Philippa Schuyler who also had a white mother but had views opposite of Halle Berry even back in the mid 1900s. For anyone who doesn't know, George Schuyler was a black conservative journalist who was reviled by the likes of Marcus Garvey,etc.
She can always get a sit com show on the WB.
Lets face it, she's the female version of Leonardo DiCaprio.
Thank You! It's just a shame it took 71 posts before someone offered that up.
Yes, well, she has the body to make quite a splash ....
I've looked up some others: Gabrielle Union, Nia Long, Vanessa Williams, Angela Bassett, Vivica A. Fox, Jada Pinkett Smith, Kerry Washington, Kimberly Elise. Haven't seen too much of them (don't think I've seen any of them in starring roles), though I recognize most of the names. And then there's Pam Grier, who Tarantino essentially created a movie for, but let's face it, that's the only decent thing she's been in since the 70's.
Leonardo DiCaprio is the female version of Leonardo DiCaprio!
Did you see this at the bottom:
WORST RAZZIE LOSER of Our First 25 YEARS
Kim Basinger (With 6 Nominations Total)
Angelina Jolie (With 7 Nominations, including 2 for 2004)
Ryan ONeal (With 6 Nominations Total)
Keanu Reeves (With 7 Nominations Total)
Ah-Nuld Schwarzenegger (With 8 Nominations, including 1 for 2004)
WORST DRAMA of Our First 25 YEARS
BATTLEFIELD EARTH (2000)
THE LONELY LADY (1983)
MOMMIE DEAREST (1981)
SHOWGIRLS (1995)
SWEPT AWAY (2002)
WORST COMEDY of Our First 25 YEARS
ADVENTURES of PLUTO NASH (2002)
THE CAT IN THE HAT (2003)
FREDDY GOT FINGERED (2001)
GIGLI (2003)
LEONARD PART 6 (1987)
WORST MUSICAL of Our First 25 YEARS
CANT STOP THE MUSIC (1980)
FROM JUSTIN TO KELLY (2003)
GLITTER (2001)
RHINESTONE (1984)
SPICE WORLD (1998)
XANADU (1980)
NOMINATIONS PER PICTURE
CATWOMAN = 7 (Picture, Actress, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Couple, Director, Screenplay)
ALEXANDER = 6 (Picture, Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor, Director, Screenplay)
WHITE CHICKS = 5 (Picture, Actress, Director, Couple, Screenplay)
FAHRENHEIT 9/11 = 5 (Actor, Couple, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress 2x)
SUPERBABIES = 4 (Picture, Supporting Actor, Director, Screenplay)
SURVIVING CHRISTMAS = 3 (Picture, Actor, Screenplay)
JERSEY GIRL = 3 (Actor, Supporting Actress, Couple)
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAZE = 2 (Supporting Actor, Remake or Sequel)
EXORCIST 4: THE BEGNINNING = 2 (Director, Remake or Sequel)
NEW YORK MINUTE = 2 (Actress, Couple)
STARSKY & HUTCH = 2 (Actor, Supporting Actress)
I'm so so so sick of this crap. She is no doubt set in such a way that she could live a life of excessive luxury for the rest of her days without lifting a finger if she so chose. How does she show her gratitude? This crap. Same with Will Smith and his idiotic, blatantly offensive comments about 9/11. They have it absolutely MADE and still they whine about how the system is stacked against them. It's staggering.
MM
Oh yeah, she's the cafe au lait Oscar winner with the blonde mom and the the black dad that disappeared.
>>Pam Grier, who Tarantino essentially created a movie for, but let's face it, that's the only decent thing she's been in since the 70's.
She had a bit role in "Mars Attacks", which seems to be a Love it or Hate it sort of movie.
Personally I love it.
L'il Kim, as the sassy nuclear reactor officer, who kills the sassy KGB officer (Eartha Kitt)...
Star Jones, as the sassy and stealthy KGB sleeper who sabotages the sub...
Aaliyah, as the hopeful, thoughtful, and sassy navigation officer who plans a life in Mon-tay-na...
And of course, Admiral Nichelle Nichols as the wise but sassy head of the CIA.
Thanks, Dan ... good verse! A woman who doesn't repect herself isn't likely to find a man who respects her.
She is beautiful, though.
Nobody could live with Marilyn, either.
BWHAHAHA! Coming this fall to UPN!
I don't know about that. You may not like her opinion about Hollywood but I don't get where she deserves to be insulted that way.
Actually, she is the first mulatto woman to win the best actress Oscar.
Berry is a two bit actress at best and only got an Oscar because she showed her breasts in a really stupid movie that was the king of dysfunction.
Want a worthless Oscar? Write, act, or direct some bad dialouge with no plot and make everyone dysfunctional, make half of them gay, and have them all totally obsessed with sex and their parents. Then throw in some current liberal cause celeb so everyone can have a speech denouncing evil conservatives.
And don't forget to use the F word on TV when you get your awards. Helps DVD sales!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.