It’s been more than 20 years since Halle Berry became the first Black woman in history to take home the Oscar for Best Actress at the Academy Awards, but in the time since, no other Black actress has yet to follow in her footsteps, something she says she’s still “eternally miffed” by. Berry won the award in 2002 for her performance in Marc Foster’s outstanding drama Monster’s Ball as a mother struggling with numerous difficulties, including grief over the loss of her son, the execution of her husband, and financial strain. As such, she takes comfort in the arms of Billy Bob Thornton, only to discover later on the connection he holds to her family.
Speaking with Marie Claire for an in-depth profile about her life and career, the subject of Berry’s 2002 Oscar win was brought up, and how – in the 22 years since – no other Black woman has managed to take home the coveted award. It’s something that’s not lost on the 58-year-old star, who says she’s “saddened” by that fact.
I’m still eternally miffed that no Black woman has come behind me for that best actress Oscar, I’m continually saddened by that year after year. And it’s certainly not because there has been nobody deserving.
Since Berry’s historic win, there have been six black women nominated for Best Actress at the Academy Awards who have been more than deserving to take home the trophy. As Berry herself points out, there was Andra Day in The United States vs. Billie Holliday, with past nominees also including Gabourey Sidibe in 2009 for Precious (she lost to Sandra Bullock for her performance in The Blindside), as well as Viola Davis, who was nominated twice for her roles in The Help (2011) and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2021), but lost out both times to Meryl Streep and Frances McDormand respectively.
Before Berry’s 2002 win, there were also only six Black women nominated for Best Actress, meaning that in the 96-year history of the Oscars, a total of 13 Black women have been nominated, a number that seems overwhelmingly skewed considering the amazing talent that Hollywood has been blessed with over the years, including the likes of Alfre Woodward, Pam Grier, and Danielle Deadwyler.
2024 Has Been the Year of Halle Berry
Hot off the success of Netflix’s The Union alongside Mark Wahlberg, Berry’s set to appear next month in Alexandre Aja’s survival-horror Never Let Go, playing a mother to two young boys that has to fend off a malicious spirit hell-bent on destroying her family. As a mom to two children already, it’s a role that she felt comfortable in thanks to having more than a decade of experience under her belt. Speaking with MovieWeb’s Will Sayre (seen above), she says:
“Conjuring up a mother is not hard to do, and I bring a lot of my own feelings about motherhood to these mother roles. I’m a fierce protector of my children, and I get to sort of use that in this film.”
As for awards and accolades? Sure, it might have been nice to be the first Black woman to win Best Actress, but as she tells Marie Claire, “Would I rather have awards or a kickass, robust, soaring career as a Black woman? I’d take the kickass, soaring career over an award any day.”
You can catch Halle Berry in
The Union
now streaming on Netflix, and in theaters on September 20 when Lionsgate’s
Never Let Go
makes its North American premiere.