Channel: AARP

Category: Entertainment

Description: Please consider supporting more content like this by becoming an AARP member: aarp.org/becomeamember Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry reflects on her 30-year career and how much has changed for women of color in Hollywood over time. Berry says trailblazers such as Diahann Carroll, who starred in “Julia,” and the women of “The Cosby Show” showed her what success could look like. In 2001, Berry became the first Black woman to win an Academy Award for best actress for her role in “Monster’s Ball.” Berry acknowledged the history-making moment in her acceptance speech, dedicating it to “every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because the door tonight has been opened.” Twenty years later, though, Berry is still the only Black woman with a best actress Oscar. She describes this reality as “heartbreaking,” but says she believes “real change” has occurred. Berry points out the number of diverse roles that are now available for women of color, as actresses including Octavia Spencer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Ava Duvernay, Shonda Rhimes, Viola Davis and Alfre Woodard are thriving. Even with Halle Berry’s Oscar win, she remained determined to put in the hard work to continue growing in her career. Berry has played a wide range of roles in films including “X-Men,” the James Bond film “Die Another Day,” and “John Wick: Chapter 3- Parabellum.” In 2021, Berry made her directorial debut with the film “Bruised,” in which she starred as a disgraced MMA fighter vying for a comeback. The film premiered at number 1 in the U.S. on Netflix and led to Berry signing a multipicture deal with Netflix to produce and star in more films. - - - - - - Connect with AARP Online: Visit us: aarp.org Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/AARP Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/AARP AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to helping people ages 50 and older to improve their quality of life as they age. With over 38 million members and growing, we lead positive social change through our extensive product offerings and services.