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.
OK
May I suggest a biopic on the amazing career of Cynthia McKinney.
I guess I'd pay to see that.
Halle is probably a Democrat. If so, she needs to wake up and realize that almost all of these Hollywood racists are liberal Democrats, while a mostly conservative Republican President has put American blacks like Dr. Rice and Gen. Powell in some of the most important and powerful positions in the world.
ROTFLMAO! :)
Yes there are -- how about "Secretary of State"? Even over the objections of her liberal friends in Washington DC.
Her portrayal of Storm in X2 also stunk up the joint. The cartoon was MUCH better than her sleepwalking performance.
Here's a thought: As an actress she is not very good. Monster's Ball gave her a VERY juicy (some say over the top) role that would have put anyone in contention for an Oscar.
She needs to face facts: She is a top-tier looking, second-tier talented actress.
Maybe you should read the article. She IS creating roles for herself by developing movies from books -- but her argument is that white actresses don't have to do that, and why is it be harder for one race than others? Whether there is actually the difference she perceives, I don't know, and you don't either.
How about a triumphal biography of Condi Rice? Hee, hee...
Who runs Hollywood Ms. Berry?
Liberals.
Case Closed.
Harsh but true.
Oh right...this is the same Halle Berry that blatantly advertised her gratuitous nudity in "Swordfish" by asking people to go see the movie and see her nude. And the same Halle Berry that got a COMPLETELY underserved Oscar nod for "Monster's Ball" - and anybody who has ever seen that movie knows what a travesty that is. The same woman who followed it up with "Gothika" and "Catwoman." Perhaps the reason she's not getting any "good" roles is that Hollywood has finally wised up to the fact that the woman has no talent. A shame, since she is a beautiful woman. A beautiful woman with absolutely no class, in my opinion. This latest rhetoric just confirms it.
Baynative - I've got a great idea...READ THE ARTICLE! Halle is way ahead of ya.
"Denzel Washington, who won [an Osacar]for his role in Training Day"
He was GREAT in that. I saw it on TV not too long ago. He's got one scene where he's explaining why his corrupt way is the right way to go. Completely compelling. He had me so sold on his terrible ideas, I couldn't believe it. What a performance. The movie does kind of fall apart at the end, but for that once scene alone he definately deserved the Oscar.
Cheers! You said it all!
"This broad is hot as all hell yet cannot keep a man to save her life. What does that tell you about her personality?"
Good point, she does seem very cranky.
I agree on "Monster's Ball"---she got that role for basically being willing to have sex in front of a camera. No two ways about it.
"Maybe you should read the article. She IS creating roles for herself by developing movies from books"
But she's whining about it. What's wrong with carving your own path?? Didn't that used to be an honorable thing??
In some places (ohhh, say like Hollywood) my post would just be considered racist </humorous sarcasm> ;)
Could you imagine the uproar if she was called mulatto?
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