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Academy Award-winning actress Halle Berry has once again spoken about the need for more recognition of Black women in Hollywood, urging the Oscars to create more opportunities for them. In a heartfelt conversation with Trevor Noah on his podcast "What’s Now?", Berry reflected on her historic Best Actress win in 2002 and expressed her hopes for more diversity at the prestigious awards.
Halle Berry Calls for More Black Women to Win Oscars
Berry, who remains the only Black woman to have won the Best Actress Oscar, shared her joy and frustration over the lack of progress in the last two decades.
"I hope this year someone stands next to me. I hope it happens because I'm tired of occupying that space alone," she said.
"This moment is for Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll. It’s for the women that stand beside me—Jada Pinkett, Angela Bassett, Vivica A. Fox. And it’s for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened."
Reflecting on Her Oscar Win
Berry won the Best Actress Oscar in 2002 for her role in Monster’s Ball, becoming the first and only Black woman to achieve this milestone. However, in her discussion with Noah, she admitted that even after this historic moment, the struggle for equal representation has not changed significantly.
"Being born a Black woman, I have always felt like I sat at the bottom of society. White man, Black man, white woman, Black woman. So I've always felt at the bottom. But that never stopped me from dreaming big or believing in my worth," she said.
"I’ve always known that I’d have to work 10 times harder than everybody else to get anywhere."
Halle Berry’s Recent Work
On the professional front, Halle Berry was last seen in the horror-comedy film Never Let Go (2024), directed by Alexandre Aja. The movie, which was released on September 20, 2024, is currently available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Berry’s comments reignite the conversation about racial diversity and representation in Hollywood, especially at the Oscars, which have long been criticized for lack of inclusivity. As award season approaches, the big question remains—will we finally see more Black women winning in major acting categories?
