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 have an idea that'll make Halle happy,and is PC at the same time.Why don't the Oscars create a catagory for best African American female actress?
Eric cheated on her with a dozen other women? He must be blind.
Halle Berry doesn't even look Black. She has got to be kidding.
Maybe she ought to become a Republican and run for office. ;-)
I highly doubt that Halle Berry has encountered racism, after all she is also a white women and a very attractive women, there are not as many black woman roles in Hollywood for the same reason there are not very many Hispanic roles for women....they are a minority group.
Hmmmm, Hollywood is so racist she can only make tens of millions of dollars. Well, life is tough for many. And she isn't exactly a great actress.
Really? I heard that the Oscars this year are the most "diverse" in history--even more so than 3 years ago when Halle won her award.
Being interviewed by "Sheets" Byrd I guess.
And then re-write it with a bunch of "women of color" to make Halle happy. A black female CIA analyst realizes that a prototype missile submarine full of black female Russian naval officers intends to defect. Cast Queen Latifa as the sassy captain of the U.S.S. Harlem, an American fast-attack sub... I can see it now... "Oh no you DIDN'T flood them torpedo tubes at me, ho!"
Oops, meant to ping you to #32, fwiw.
Roger that. Her career has been based entirely on her beauty. Such misfortune!
Her first husband cheated on her with drugs.
Or donate it to the "Condi Rice in '08" campaign. :>))
BWAAAAHAAAAA!!!
I've got something else she can poli......never mind.
FMCDH(BITS)
For such a pretty girl she sure is angry.
If she had any sense of decency, she'd have retired from the industry after this:
Heh, heh.
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