Halle Berry: Life in Film

The Oscar-winning actress survived plenty of ups and downs.

Halle Berry

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Halle Berry

7. Losing Isaiah (1995) -     Berry delivered one of the most gut-wrenching performances of her career in this emotional drama about two women fighting for motherhood of an infant named Isaiah. As the child's drug-addicted birth mother, Berry is able to make us forget her beauty queen good looks and believe her to be a crack head capable of leaving her son in a dumpster. The performance earned Berry her first NAACP Image Award nomination for a feature film. (Photo: Paramount Pictures) 

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Losing Isaiah - Berry played against "pretty type" as a reformed crack addicted mother trying to get her son back from his foster parents in 1997’s Losing Isaiah. The movie also starred Jessica Lange, David Straithairn and Samuel L. Jackson (her Jungle Fever co-star).(Photo: Paramount Pictures)

The Rich Man’s Wife - Already a staple in romantic comedies and dramas, Berry plunged into the world of thrillers in "The Rich Man’s Wife", as the unhappy younger spouse of a wealthy older man whom she fantasizes about killing. Clive Owen also stars.

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The Rich Man’s Wife - Already a staple in romantic comedies and dramas, Berry plunged into the world of thrillers in The Rich Man’s Wife as the unhappy younger spouse of a wealthy older man whom she fantasizes about killing. Clive Owen also stars.(Photo: Caravan Pictures)

B*A*P*S - Directed by Robert Townsend, Berry flexed her comedic acting muscle, donned blond wigs, and a gold tooth as Nisi, a tacky but fab homegirl who sets out to scam a millionaire but who instead learns to be a Black American in the urban comedy classic, “B*A*P*S.”

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B*A*P*S - Directed by Robert Townsend, Berry flexed her comedic acting muscle and donned blond wigs and a gold tooth as Nisi, a tacky but fab homegirl who sets out to scam a millionaire but who instead learns to be a Black American in the urban comedy classic B*A*P*S.(Photo: New Line Cinema)

Introducing Dorothy Dandridge - Berry took home the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress for the title role in “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge.” As executive producer, Berry shopped the project to several studios and networks before the 1999 film found a home on HBO. Photo: Kevin Winter/ImageDirect/Getty Images

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Introducing Dorothy Dandridge - Berry took home the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress for the title role in Introducing Dorothy Dandridge. As executive producer Berry shopped the project to several studios and networks before the 1999 film found a home on HBO. (Photo: Kevin Winter/ImageDirect/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Kevin Winter/ImageDirect/Getty Images

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Swordfish - Starring opposite John Travolta and Hugh Jackman, Berry sent shockwaves on the big screen as Ginger Knowles, a member of a group of secret renegade counter terrorists. On her “gratuitous” topless nude scene in the film, Berry’s first, she told Sun Media, “I did it because I needed to do it. I needed to face a fear.”

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Swordfish - Starring opposite John Travolta and Hugh Jackman, Berry sent shock waves on the big screen as Ginger Knowles, a member of a group of secret renegade counter terrorists. On her “gratuitous” topless nude scene in the film, Berry’s first, she told Sun Media, “I did it because I needed to do it. I needed to face a fear.”(Photo: Silver Pictures)

Best Actress Oscar Winner Halle Berry - Berry made groundbreaking Hollywood history by becoming the first African American woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress as Leticia Musgrove in 2001’s “Monster’s Ball.” The indie star studded movie also starred Billy Bob Thorton, Heath Ledger and Sean Combs. Photo Credit: Frank Micelotta/GettyImages

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Monster's Ball - Berry made groundbreaking Hollywood history by becoming the first African-American woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress as Leticia Musgrove in 2001’s Monster’s Ball.The indie star-studded movie also starred Billy Bob Thorton, Heath Ledger and Sean Combs. (Photo:  Frank Micelotta/GettyImages)

Die Another Day - As spy agent Jinx Johnson, in 2002’s “Die Another Day” Berry joined the cultural icon group of screen ladies known as ‘Bond Girls’ when she played the love interest of James Bond, portrayed by Pierce Brosnan. Berry jumped into full action mode brandishing guns and donning bikinis.

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Die Another Day - As spy agent Jinx Johnson in 2002’s Die Another Day, Berry joined the cultural icon group of screen ladies known as Bond Girls when she played the love interest of James Bond, portrayed by Pierce Brosnan. Berry jumped into full action mode brandishing guns and donning bikinis.(Photo: MGM Pictures)

Gothika - Constantly a moving force through varied film genres, Berry again shifted cinematic gears when she starred in the horror, mystery thriller “Gothika” as Miranda Grey, a psychiatrist who wakes up a patient in the asylum where she normally works. Robert Downey Jr., Charles Dutton, and Penelope Cruz also star.

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Gothika - Constantly a moving force through varied film genres, Berry again shifted cinematic gears when she starred in the horror-mystery-thriller Gothika as Miranda Grey, a psychiatrist who wakes up a patient in the asylum where she normally works. Robert Downey Jr., Charles Dutton, and Penelope Cruz also star.(Photo: Columbia Tri-Star Pictures)

Catwoman - "Catwoman" starred Benjamin Bratt, Sharon Stone and Berry, wearing a black leather catsuit and cracking a whip as the cinematic version of the comic book based ultimate feline femme fatale. Berry won a Razzie For Worst Actress for the role, and spoofed her Oscar acceptance speech when she accepted.

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Catwoman - Catwoman starred Benjamin Bratt, Sharon Stone and Berry, wearing a black leather cat suit and cracking a whip as the cinematic version of the comic-book based ultimate feline femme fatale. Berry won a Razzie for Worst Actress for the role, and spoofed her Oscar acceptance speech when she accepted.(Photo: Warner Bros Pictures)

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Things We Lost In The Fire - Berry received a 2008 NAACP Image Award nomination for Best Actress for “Things We Lost In The Fire.” In it, Berry returned to familiar ground as on-screen matriarch Audrey Burke, a widowed mom of two who welcomes her deceased husband’s best friend, played by Benecio del Toro to live in her home.

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Things We Lost in the Fire - Berry received a 2008 NAACP Image Award nomination for Best Actress for Things We Lost in the Fire, in which Berry returned to familiar ground as on-screen matriarch Audrey Burke, a widowed mom of two who welcomes her deceased husband’s best friend, played by Benecio del Toro, to live in her home.(Photo: Paramount Pictures)

Celebrity Exclusive Videos, Halle Berry, Frankie and Alice, Celebrity News, Black Hollywood

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Frankie and Alice - Venturing into daring big-screen territory, Berry produced and starred in Frankie and Alice as Frankie Murdoch, a young woman struggling with multiple personality disorder, including one of a racist. Based on a true story, Phylicia Rashad and Chandra Wilson also starred.(Photo: Access Motion Pictures)

NAACP Image Award Best Actress Winner - Berry picked up the Best Actress trophy at the 42nd NAACP Image Awards for her gutsy portrayal of Frankie Murdoch in “Frankie and Alice.” In addition to being happy about receiving the accolade, Berry was equally excited that legendary pop artist, Prince, presented it to her.

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NAACP Image Award for Best Actress - Berry picked up the Best Actress trophy at the 42nd NAACP Image Awards for her gutsy portrayal of Frankie Murdoch in Frankie and Alice. In addition to being happy about receiving the accolade, Berry was equally excited that legendary pop artist Prince presented it to her.(Photo: Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup)

Cloud Atlas (October) - Halle Berry has been extremely selective about her choice of roles over the last decade (Lord only knows how New Year's Eve made the cut), and we're thrilled for her return to serious drama in Cloud Atlas, co-directed by the filmmakers behind Run Lola Run and The Matrix. With a plot that crosses both space and time, this one will be a brain-twister.(Photo: Courtesy Warner Bros Pictures)

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Cloud Atlas - In 2012 Halle Berry returned to the big screen in Tom Hanks' Cloud Atlas. In the spiritual drama, Berry played a variety of characters including a Jewish woman and an Asian man. For her role, Berry received an NAACP Image Award nomination for outstanding actress in a motion picture. (photo: Cloud Atlas Productions)