Halle Maria Berry is an American actress, former fashion model, and beauty queen. Berry has received Emmy and Golden Globe awards for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge and an Academy Award for Best Actress in 2002 for her performance in Monster's Ball, becoming the first and, as of 2008, only woman of African-American descent to have won the award for Best Actress. She is one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood and also a Revlon spokeswoman. She has also been involved in the production side of several of her films.

Sourced

• Sexiness is a state of mind -- a comfortable state of being. It's about loving yourself in your most unlovable moments.
  • Suzanne Condie Lambert (October 9, 2008) "'Esquire' crowns Berry the sexiest woman alive", The Arizona Republic, p. E6.

• When I held that statuette, I felt as if I had won a triumph not just for myself, but for every other woman who'd struggled to overcome the same sort of background.
  • On winning an Academy Award — reported in Barbara Davies (August 10, 2008) "Lost and Found", Sunday Telegraph Magazine, p. 18.

• Actors always have to fight for the good parts. There are so few good roles written for women each year, and when one is written like this every actress in town covets the role.
  • On her role in the film Things We Lost In The Fire — Western Mail staff (February 1, 2008) "From the grave to the cradle", Western Mail.

• It's an amazing feeling to know that life is actually growing inside your body. The first time you see the ultrasound and you see the little bones and you realise that it's part of you and it's in your care is life changing and this sort of protective instinct has taken over.
  • On being pregnant with her first child — reported in Lawrie Masterson (October 21, 2007) "Yummy working mummy", Sunday Herald Sun, Section: IE, p. 3.

• I want to do roles that are fun and challenging and I want to try different things. I don't want to keep doing Monster's Ball over and over and over again. I want to keep doing my career the way that I was doing it before I won the Oscar.
  • Amy Longsdorf (April 15, 2007) "Berry dares to leave drama queen behind her", Courier-Post, Section: B, p. 15G.

• When you grow up in that (multi-ethnic) environment, you see the world differently. Being a mixed-race child, I didn't always see colour in people, I really didn't. It was other people that made me see the colour all the time.
  • Associated Press (April 14, 2007) "Savouring life with an Oscar", The Gold Coast Bulletin, p. 117.

• When a young woman tells me that she wants to become and actor, I say, 'No, be a writer. Or go to business school and learn how to run a studio.' The only real change will come from behind the scenes.
  • On gender issues in the entertainment industry — reported in Geoff Pevere (April 13, 2007) "Berry almost chose bylines over marquees", The Toronto Star, p. D06.

• The fact is that I like thrillers and action movies. But what really fulfills me is getting out of my comfort zone, taking chances.
  • Terry Lawson (April 8, 2007) "Reporter, Temp, Online Seductress - Berry Revels In Film's Layered Role", Detroit Free Press, p. 1F.

• I get offered varied parts, often super sexy roles. But I still think it's an issue to find the good scripts. It's a myth that you win an Oscar and you get more opportunities, and this doesn't just go for me.
  • Will Lawrence (May 22, 2006) "Anything to do with taking off your clothes comes my way", Evening Standard.

• You know, she often tells me that what I do is great. I don't think she ever thought I would end up doing this with my life. But I think she is happier that I haven't changed over the years, that I am still me, that I care about her and that we are the same as we always were. And I think that is what makes her most proud.
  • On Berry's relationship with her mother — reported in Hilary Morgan (May 14, 2006) "Stormy life of a leading lady - Cover Story", The Sun-Herald, p. 10.

• Being a black woman, I've often felt I've been judged by my sex and my race, and I have always known that it shouldn't hamper me.
  • Mike Goodridge (March 26, 2005) "The seductress", Herald Sun, p. W10.

• I don't buy into that pressure to be glamorous all the time. It's impossible, I mean, you get a pimple in the morning, you wake up with bags under your eyes, you see if you can use it in your work, maybe incorporate it into your character.
  • Mike Szymanski (July 23, 2004 ) "Halle Berry: 'Catwoman for the new century' is in control", The Seattle Times, p. H20.

• I used to believe that if my career was going great, then I was not entitled to a great personal life. Well, I've stopped thinking that way. I believe I can have it all.
  • Barry Koltnow (April 1, 2004) "Halle, them's the breaks", The Advertiser, p. 048

• I've also grown as an actor as I've got older in life. I've learnt how to go to work, immerse myself 100 per cent in the character and, at the end of the day, take it all off and go back, get a nice bubble bath, have a nice massage and realise that is not my life. And that feels good.
  • Steve Pratt (March 27, 2004) "Blazing a trail with Halle's comet", The Northern Echo, p. 10.

• I've never been afraid to be who I really am on screen.
  • Lana K. Wilson-Combs (November 21, 2003) "Halle Berry finally finds a scary movie she can embrace in 'Gothika'", Alameda Times-Star, Section: Bay Area Living.

• I never even think about the physicality of roles, until honestly I get the gig and I think, 'OK, now what do I have to do in this one?' Like, I approach it thinking more about the character -- do I respond to it? Is it something I think I can play? Does it seem like it'll be fun?
  • Betsy Pickle (November 21, 2003) "Berry's tough break - Actress stretches to physical max in 'Gothika'", The Knoxville News-Sentinel, p. 12.

• I'm not obsessive, like I have to have the best butt or the best abs, but I like the idea of feeling strong and healthy. It's important to feel good about myself physically.
  • The Star-Ledger staff (May 2, 2003) "It's a beautiful year, again, for this Oscar-winner", The Star-Ledger, p. 62.

• I've always liked to go down a different path. Being a woman of color, I never followed a cookie cutter way.
  • Cindy Pearlman (November 17, 2002) "Female Bonding - Hot on the Heels of her Academy-Award Winning Turn in 'Monster's Ball,' Halle Berry Shares the Screen With 007", Chicago Sun-Times, p. 1.

• For me, the walk of the character is always the first part that I must define for myself.
  • Helen Barlow (March 15, 2002) "Monster Success", The Age, p. 3.

• My mother always said to me, 'You're going to have to work harder and have to be better, and you can't take no for an answer'.
  • Angela Dawson (February 23, 2002) "Pick of the Crop", The Courier Mail, p. M10.

About

• That was the first time she was given the opportunity to use what I think is still an underrated talent.
  • James Foley, on Berry's performance in Monster's Ball — reported in Steven Rea (April 28, 2007) "The days are sweet for Berry", The Courier Mail, p. M04.

• I love Halle. She's so sweet. I connected with her immediately and, even though we only worked together for a few days, it was the best connection I've ever had with an actress. She made me feel like I could trust her.
  • Penelope Cruz, on working with Berry in Gothika — reported in Los Angeles Daily News staff (November 20, 2003) "American Gothika; Halle Berry overcomes her career fear to take first marquee role in horror film", The Guelph Mercury, p. F12.

• As beautiful as Halle is on the outside, she's 10 times more beautiful on the inside.
  • Rick Yune — reported in Amy Longsdorf (November 17, 2002) "Still flying, still down to earth - Nothing's been the same since Oscar night, except Halle Berry herself", The Record, p. E01.