Halle Berry Reveals She Struggled for Roles After Oscar Win and Shares Advice to Cynthia Erivo

Halle Berry has revealed that winning an Oscar did not transform her career in the way she once imagined.

The 'Crime 101' star reflected on her historic Best Actress win for 'Monster's Ball' in an interview with The Cut. Berry made history as the first—and still the only—Black woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress.

Halle Berry on Her Hollywood Career

Halle Berry said she believed major opportunities would immediately follow her victory, picturing scripts arriving in abundance. Instead, she woke up the next day to the same industry barriers. She explained that despite her achievement, she was still viewed through the lens of race, with directors questioning how casting a Black woman in a leading role might shape the entire story.

Image Courtesy: Halle Berry/ Instagram

She said there was concern that it would require a Black male co-star and turn the project into what studios considered a Black film, which they believed would not perform well overseas.

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Halle Berry's Candid Conversation With Cynthia Erivo

In the same interview, Halle Berry shared that she once spoke candidly to Cynthia Erivo about the realities of Oscar recognition. Erivo has been nominated for Best Actress for her performances in 'Harriet' and 'Wicked.'

Berry told her that while she absolutely deserved the award, winning might not change her life in the way people expect. She stressed that an Oscar cannot be the ultimate validation for an artist's work.

Halle Berry previously expressed similar feelings in a 2024 interview with Marie Claire. She said she remains deeply disappointed that no other Black woman has won Best Actress since her milestone moment. According to Berry, the lack of another win is not due to a shortage of deserving performances.

Image Courtesy: Halle Berry/ Instagram

She is not alone in questioning the long-term impact of an Academy Award. Melissa Leo, who won Best Supporting Actress for 'The Fighter,' has said the honour ultimately hurt her career and that she had more opportunities before winning.

Marcia Gay Harden has also spoken about the downside of Oscar success. After winning Best Supporting Actress for 'Pollock,' she said the award proved professionally damaging, explaining that the roles and pay she was offered became smaller and that the shift made little sense to her.

Berry's comments add to a growing conversation in Hollywood about whether an Oscar win still guarantees lasting career momentum.

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