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Marian Wright Edelman: Still Hungry in America
Halle Berry made history as the first African American woman to take home the Academy Award for best actress in a motion picture, and for that reason alone, the former pageant queen's words hold a lot of weight.
In the March edition of Essence magazine, the new mother of 9-month-old daughter Nahla opened up to CNN correspondent Lola Ogunnaike about her current relationship "status," her past romances and her disappointment with Hollywood peers.
Though the Cleveland-born beauty won the coveted award for her performance in the gritty Lee Daniels-produced drama 'Monster's Ball,' she couldn't shake criticism about taking the role, in which she and Billy Bob Thornton had an all-out balls-to-the-walls sex scene.
Angela Bassett, who had been nominated for best actress 10 years prior for the critically acclaimed Tina Tuner biopic 'What's Love Got to Do With It,' famously told Newsweek magazine that she had been offered the lead role of Leticia Musgrove first but turned it down because she "wasn't going to be a prostitute on film."
Other Hollywood notables and industry-goers shared similar reactions to the rawness of the scene.
Berry revealed that she was hurt by the backlash. "I would have rather had them call me up at home and say, 'Halle, what the f--- was that,' as opposed to them airing it publicly," she told Essence. "That was such an important moment for me and to have people attempt to dampen it not only for me, but for all the people who found hope and joy in that moment."
"You find out who your real friends are," she added. "Take mental notes and keep it moving."
And that's not all she had to say about Hollywood.
Regarding racism in Tinseltown, Berry said she believes there are many more opportunities for black actors today and that "things have absolutely gotten better" since her early days on the TV sitcom 'Living Dolls' and being denied a role as a park ranger. "Young black artists have no idea how hard it used to be," she added.
Professionally, she knows hardships -- and also personally.
BHM MEDIA NEW
While on a family vacation with Tom and Suri, Katie Holmes hit the beach near Rio de Janeiro in this blue one piece.
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Rihanna hits the stage at the NFL Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Concert in a pair of knee-high black boots. What do you think about the pop singer's look?
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Mischa Barton wore this Elie Saab couture mint green gown to the Fashion Dinner for Aids at the Pavillon d'Armenonville. Is Mischa's look a hit or miss?
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Heroes star Hayden Panettiere arrives at the NBC Universal Pre-Super Bowl event at Portofino in a black tuxedo jacket and dress with a plunging neckline. Is the Hollywood starlet hot or not?
Gerardo Mora, Getty Images
Diane Kruger wore Nina Ricci for the Fashion Dinner for Aids at the Pavillon d'Armenonville. Is her dress a mess or amazing?
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Kim Kardashian opted for this floral strapless Tracey Reese dress for the 2009 Moves Magazine Super Bowl Party at The Venue Club. Let us know what you think about Kim's look.
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Burlesque beauty Dita Von Teese wore an ice blue Elie Saab (left) satin dress at the Fashion Dinner for Aids at the Pavillon d'Armenonville.
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Spanish actress Penelope Cruz appeared at the the 2009 Goya Cinema Awards in Madrid in this black lace Chanel gown. Is it a win or a loss?
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Amy Adams wore a Jasmine di Milo gold and silver sequin backless dress and Christian Louboutin heels to the 61st Annual Directors Guild of America Awards.
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Being thousands of miles away didn't stop Meryl Streep from celebrating the inauguration. The actress wore this Catherine Malandrino flag dress to the Paris premiere of Doubt.
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A hot Halle Berry topic of late is her relationship with 33-year-old model and restaurateur Gabriel Aubry, who is the father of her baby.
The twice-divorced Revlon cosmetics spokeswoman declared that she would not marry again. "I feel more married now than I did in any of my actual marriages," she said about her relationship with Aubry. "We live the truth of that and that's more important than a piece of paper."
She previously signed pieces of paper (aka marriage licenses) with baseball star David Justice and R&B crooner Eric Benet. The 'Strictly Business' star was also reportedly romantically linked to former R&B chart-topper Christopher Williams, soap opera star Shemar Moore and former box-office superstar Wesley Snipes.
Aubry is a stark contrast from her aforementioned mates; they're all black.
But she may not be looking back. "I tried black men. I tried," Berry joked. "I married two black men. You know I tried."
"I don't hold all black males responsible because of the two bad eggs I got," she clarified, possibly contemplating how many of her black male fans consider her a sex symbol. "I even dated black men after my last divorce, but this is just where I found love."
The March issue of Essence magazine is on newsstands now.
Mel B Pictures
In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl "Mel B" poses for a photo wearing a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness, after a fashion show and launch of "Pose for the Cure" web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the 'Susan G. Komen for the Cure' fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**
AP
In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl "Mel B" poses for a photo wearing a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness, after a fashion show and launch of "Pose for the Cure" web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the 'Susan G. Komen for the Cure' fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**
AP
In this undated image released by Oxfam Tuesday Sept. 23, 2008, British singer Mel B participates in the 'In My Name' global campaign calling for action against poverty and demanding world leaders keep their promises on millennium development goals. (AP Photo/Oxfam, HO) ** NO SALES **
AP
In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl Mel B, left, serves as the emcee at a fashion show and launch of "Pose for the Cure" web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the 'Susan G. Komen for the Cure' fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. Mel B wears a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. The woman at right is unidentified. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**
AP
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: TV personality and designer Khloe Kardashian and Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard (R) pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Ultimo Scottish designer lingerie brand founder Michelle Mone (L) and pop singer Melanie Brown pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown poses backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown and Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard (R) pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown and singer Aubrey O'Day (R) poses backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
Getty Images
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown, Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard, singer Aubrey O'Day and TV personality and designer Khloe Kardashian pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
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Comments: (358)
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By: tee on 2/21/2009 9:35AM
OMG what is wrong with her, she sounds like a nut case. Shes proud that she had to make amovie like that to get a award. Where is her talent, you want Talent, where here it is.
alfre woodard,cycly tyson,angela bassett,
jenifer lewis,loretta devine,sanaa lathan,taraji henson,robingivins,queen latifah, my list goes on, No where in my dvd collections I have a Halle Berry Movie.It took Monsters Ball for her to screw Billy Bob to get a Academy, I think they went all the way, thats why Billy and Jolie broke up, lol.All the Black men she dated, but took a white man to have a baby with, she didnt want the baby to be black, she wanted the baby to have her skin color.Give Me A Break.
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By: Nicole on 2/21/2009 11:39AM
I totally agree. I never thought very highly of Halle's acting skills. However, this confirms that she is nothing more than a good-looking woman willing to do anything to succeed. As far as falling in love with a white man--this is her choice. Why do people who date outside of their race feel as though they have to defend their choice? White, black, yellow--date whomever your heart falls in love with, but don't put down others in the process.
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By: elizabeth on 2/21/2009 4:50PM
I don't know where you get your information from, but nothing but pure nonsense has poured out of your mouth. While I agree with your opinion about 'Monster Ball' - it was too much and did not feel it had a strong storyline- that is not the reason why Jolie and Thornton broke up. Please get your facts straight. And another thing, give this woman a break. She has dated black men. Black men after black men after black men. Unless you were asleep, her relationships with them had not been successful. She found love in a place she never existed, with white male. So what?! And the remark about her wanting her baby to look a particular way is an insult to all people of color-black people. With a statement like that I can see how you view yourself. I guess love is not color-blind.
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By: Fredrika on 2/22/2009 9:47AM
I totally agree with you about her acting skill and i was upset that Monster's Ball was the one that got her the Oscar. However, the comment that it "took a white man to have a baby with, she didnt want the baby to be black, she wanted the baby to have her skin color" is not true. In her previous relationships she always wanted a baby, but she happened to not have one. That was part of the reason she and Michael Ealy broke up. She wanted to have a baby, but he didn't want to have a baby without being married. So she tried the brothers, but let the girl be happy with her white man if that's where she found real love.
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By: BELLA DONNA on 2/22/2009 10:21AM
Dissappointment with her HOLLYWOOD Peers??? - Oh My! - this chick is CRAZY you all SEE.
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By: POV on 2/22/2009 11:20AM
I disagree with you. A true actor has the ability to put his personal persona on the shelf and assume the personality of the character they're portraying. The mear fact that you're all critiqueing her as someone that you're so disappointed in her for acting less of the woman you must see yourself as being or to the male that saw her behaving less than the woman you would take home to meet your family only shows the gift she has as a beautiful actress and person to portray someone that is so totally opposite of who see truly is.
I think Angela Basset should consider giving more thought of the sacrafices a truly great actor or actress has to make in the pursuit of greatness one whiches to recieve in their chosen profession. BTW I have much respect for Angela Basset as a human being.
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By: Lisa Jones on 2/22/2009 4:27PM
I love Halle Berry and I yhink that she is a great actress and it do not matter what she has chosen to be her daughters father. Just as long as she and her beautiful daughter is happy. YOU CANNOT HELP WHO YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH. IT JUST HAPPENS.
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By: fred on 2/22/2009 4:40PM
ID READ MORE BUT MY ALL TIME FAVORITE MOVIEIS ON "ROSE WOOD" YEE HAA
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By: Anne on 2/22/2009 5:20PM
you need to back off my baby daddy is white and im black tell me what the hell color gotta do with love hunny wake up the years are going by and your staying in the past and ifit wasnt her in monster ball it woulda been someone else so back off
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By: Lorri Rogers on 2/22/2009 6:19PM
You know that is all part of being a actress. So what she went further than other actresses may have gone and got a award. Halle Berry regardless how you look at it is a very talented actress, and if this is what she got a award for then so be it. She was along with other black actress why overdue for her accomplishments. Maybe you like some of the other actresses may not have done this role in monster ball, but lets not hate on it. Lets stop hating on each other period/ Some do roles others wont and some will. halle Berry you keep on doing the damn thing your way. I will always be a fan of your movies and of you. And love is certainly were you find it whether it is black for white.
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