Halle Berry Says She’s Heartbroken No Other Black Woman Has Won Academy Award For Best Actress

Halle Berry Says She’s Heartbroken No Other Black Woman Has Won Academy Award For Best Actress

BruisedDirector and actress Halle BerryShe spoke out about some of the highlights in her remarkable career as an actress who has won multiple awards. She also discussed the fact that she still holds the award for best actor, 20 years after her Oscar win.

Halle Berry has previously been open and honest when discussing the surprise she felt post her historic Oscar win. She stated in an earlier interview:

“It was surprising. Because I thought they were going just to back up the truck, and drop it. [the job offers]Right? When you have a historic win like that, you think, ‘Oh, this is going to fundamentally change.’ It did fundamentally change me, but it didn’t change my place in the business overnight. I had to return to work. I still had to try to fight to make a way out of no way.”

In a recent promotional of ABC’s Soul of a NationThe 55-year-old actress touches on the topic that she is still the only Black woman to receive the award 20 decades later in a special focusing on the history and rise of notable Black actors.

She was asked if she hopes for the success future Black actresses, and she answered that question during her famous 2002 acceptance speech. Halle BerryThis is what they had to say:

“I’ve been asked this question so many times as if I should have the answer, but I don’t. But I will say this, I do feel completely heartbroken that there’s no other woman standing next to me in 20 years”

She continued:

“I thought, like everybody else, that night meant a lot of things would change. It was obvious that there would be other females. I thought I would have the script truck back up to my front door and I’d have an opportunity to play any role I wanted. That didn’t happen. No other woman is standing there.”

Although there has not yet been a breakthrough in the number of Black women who win the award, the actress believes that the win inspired more Black creatives.

“When I look around and I see my brothers and sisters working and thriving and telling their own stories from their point of view, I’m proud of that. I see the movement moving forward. And I think that night inspired so many of those people to dream those dreams.” 

The Academy has been criticized many times for their inability to represent African Americans in film and media. They were most recently hit with backlash after they posted a tweet of appreciation for Hattie MacDaniel, the first African American woman to win an Oscar.

Do you think we’ll see another Black woman win the award anytime soon? Comment below to let us know your thoughts!

[VIA]