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.
"Isn't it true that the women from Bayonne are a little, uh, Butch? ;-)"
LOL, not sure about that, but many of them are TREMENDOUSLY FAT.
"The lack of good screenplays probably doesn't have much to do with her skin colour. Hollywood is mostly dreck. They are devoted to profit, not to art."
There is no lack of good screenplays. What there is is a lack of studios willing to buy them.
Scientists are working MIRACLES with stealth technology these days...
"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."
You might feel the need to recast. I could be wrong but I think Aaliyah might have a little trouble getting there, if you get my drift
When she became the first black woman to win the best actress Oscar, Halle Berry hoped she would be the first of many.
What they fail to miss was that, in 2004, the first "African"-American (as in actually coming from Africa) to win an Academy Award was...
Charlize Theron
But, unfortunately, not mute.
But, apparently, dumb
but still deplorably stupid
Julia Roberts is one of the most over rated actresses in Hollywood....and now since she is out of the spot light, telling her nannies how to take care of her twins, I think Jennifer Anniston is about to mova into that category. Any movie I have ever seen her in, she is just playing Rachael with different name & without the cast of "friends" or the coffee shop.
and, if I recall, a lousy driver!
Well, her mother is white, her father is black, so that makes her white. Right? Oh no, wait a mintute. If you hae 1/16th ounce of black in ya, you're considered black. Right?
Oops, hae should be have.
No halle, first of all you aren't black, your mixed.. nothing wrong with that, but lets be honest with ourselves.. shall we?
Secondly, to get a good role you have to be able to actually ACT!!!! Sure skin is nice, but acting helps you get good roles..... Frankly your Oscar was undeserved, bunch of liberal guilt behind that one not your talent.
I would agree with that statement. It says what I meant to say.
It's a gamble producing any movie and most established organizations would rather go for a safer bet on making a profit.
Vivica A. Fox, Jada Pinkett Smith; Vanessa Williams; Angela Basset, etc. etc.
On the other hand ..... when people like an actor as a certain character, they like to see them that way again and again, like Cary Grant or Jackie Chan (American version). You could call 'em "movie stars" instead of "actors", but as far as viewing pleasure goes it doesn't make much difference.
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.