‘It’s troubling’: Halle Berry reflects on being the only black woman to win Best Actress and the struggle for diversity in Hollywood

Halle Berry says Hollywood still has a long way to go when it comes to improving diversity in the industry, as she reflected on being the only black woman to ever win an Academy Award for Best Actress.

The 50-year-old won the prestigious award in 2002 for her role in Monster’s Ball and, while speaking at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity with Teen Vogue editor-in-chief Elaine Welteroth, spoke about her disappointment in seeing how few strides had been made for diversity in Hollywood since her historic win.

‘It’s troubling, and a few years ago when we had the black Oscars, and there was a complete blackout for us, it was probably one of my lowest professional moments because I sat there, and I remember that speech,’ she said of her 2001 acceptance speech, ‘and I remember how I don’t even know where that speech came from, because I didn’t have a speech, I was pretty sure Sissy Spacek was gonna win.’

‘Two Oscars ago, whenever we had the all blackout, I sat there and I thought: “Wow, that moment really meant nothing. That meant nothing, I thought it meant something, but I think it meant nothing.”

Berry seemed to be referring to the 2015 Academy Awards, in which the nominees were overwhelmingly white.

‘And I was profoundly hurt by that and saddened by that, and it inspired me to try and get involved in other ways, which is why I want to try directing, I want to start producing more, I want to be apart of making more opportunities for people of color.’

Halle offered solutions for increasing diversity in her industry.

‘I have conversation more deeply with the Academy members, and trying to figure out how to help and add more diversity into the Academy, this group which chooses who wins every year.’

‘These types of groups have to start…

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