Halle Berry: Oscar Win Didn't Change Hollywood

Halle Berry, reflecting on her historic 2002 Best Actress Academy Award for 'Monster's Ball,' stated that the win did not alter her Hollywood career trajectory. She anticipated a surge in script offers but found that racial bias persisted among directors, who hesitated to cast Black women due to perceived impacts on international box office revenue. Berry shared this perspective, advising Cynthia Erivo that awards, while deserved, may not fundamentally change one's career path and should not be the sole measure of validation.

This sentiment aligns with Lupita Nyong'o's experience following her Oscar win for '12 Years a Slave.' Nyong'o recounted receiving offers primarily for roles as enslaved people, even on slave ships, rather than diverse leading roles. Beyond her acting career, Berry is also involved with her menopause wellness company, Respin, and has publicly engaged with California Governor Gavin Newsom regarding his veto of a menopause-related bill.