Halle Berry

From LoveToKnow Celebrity

From Miss Ohio USA to a $10 million per film actress, Halle Berry has proven that in the flighty world of Hollywood, she is definitely there to stay.

About Halle Berry

Halle Berry
Born As:	Halle Maria Berry
Birthdate:	August 14, 1966
Best Known As:	Dorothy Dandridge, Introducing Dorothy Dandridge
Website:	http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000932/bio

The beautiful Ms. Berry hails from the midwestern city of Cleveland, Ohio. Having an African American father and Caucasian mother, Halle recognized racial dynamics at an early age, once stating that "Blackness is a state of mind and I identify with the black community. Mainly, because I realized, early on, when I walk into a room, people see a black woman, they don't see a white woman. So out of that reason alone, I identify more with the black community."

Berry got her first taste of the spotlight as a teenager when she won the Miss Teenage All-American Pageant in 1985. The following year, she participated in the Miss USA Pageant and won first runner-up. After participating in the Miss World Pageant, Berry decided to leave the pageant world behind and began her career as a model. Her career as a model was short-lived, however, as she was cast in her first acting role in 1989 on the forgettable ABC show Living Dolls.

Berry's Big Break

After being cast in small roles from 1989 to 1990, Halle's big break came in 1991 when respected director Spike Lee chose her to play the role of crack-addict Vivian in the film Jungle Fever. In order to transform herself into a drug addict, Berry reportedly did not bathe or shower for two weeks to prepare herself for the role of Vivian. It was this role in which Berry not only proved her skills as an actress, but also demonstrated her dedication to her craft.

Lightweight Roles

Despite her critically acclaimed performance in Jungle Fever, Berry found herself playing unchallenging, lightweight roles such as:

Strictly Business – This 1991 film featured Berry as a "Femme Fatale."
The Last Boy Scout – Starring alongside Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans in this 1991 action film, Halle played the role of Damon Wayans' girlfriend Cory. In the film, Berry's character worked as a stripper.
Boomerang – In 1992, Berry took on the character of Angela Lewis, opposite Eddie Murphy. Halle's role of Angela eventually becomes Murphy's love interest in the film.

Halle Berry's Diversity

After playing a string of lightweight "love interest" roles, Berry took on the character of "Queen" for the television mini-series bearing the same name. The mini-series was based on award winning African American author Alex Haley's book. The mini-series was lauded by critics and went on to win a number of awards.

Berry, keeping an eye on diversifying her acting portfolio, went on to play the comedic role of Rosetta Stone in the 1994 film The Flinstones. After her comedic turn, she took on the serious character of Khaila Richards, opposite Jessica Lange in Losing Isiah.

Over the years, Berry kept busy with various television and movie roles. It was in 1999, when Berry went from "actress" to "award winning actress".

Award Winning Roles

In 1999, Halle Berry starred in the television movie Introducing Dorothy Dandridge. The film went on to win a total of 18 industry awards. Halle Berry won the following awards for the biopic.

Emmy for "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Mini-Series or Movie."
Golden Globe for " Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV."
Image Award for "Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie/Miniseries/Dramatic Special."
Screen Actors Guild Award for " Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries."
Black Reel Award in the "Best Actress" category.

Berry's Biggest Career Year

In 2001, Berry played the role of Leticia Musgrove, the wife of a man on death row, opposite Billy Bob Thornton, the racist prison guard whom takes part in her husband's execution in the gritty film Monster's Ball. Berry gave one of her most moving performances in her career and the industry noticed. She went on to be the first African American woman to win the coveted Oscar award in the "Best Actress" category.

Halle Berry's Biggest Personal Role

After two failed marriages it seems that Berry's personal life is finally beginning to mimic her very successful personal life. Berry and her partner Gabriel Aubry announced in 2007 that they are expecting a baby. The new arrival will be the first child for both Halle and Gabriel.

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