Halle Berry Reflected On Her Historic 2002 Oscar Win And

0
121

“It didn’t open the door.”

We all know Halle Berry. She’s an actor, trailblazer, and broadly beloved Hollywood figure who’s easily one of the most prominent celebrities of our time.

Valerie Macon / AFP via Getty Images

That’s been true for a while now. Known for dozens of films and TV shows spanning genres and decades, Halle’s career began more than 30 years ago with roles in popular comedies like Boomerang and The Flintstones.

Presley Ann / Getty Images for #SeeHer

In 2002, Halle’s critically acclaimed performance in the drama Monster’s Ball earned her an Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role.

Frank Trapper / Corbis via Getty Images

The achievement was exciting for a whole host of reasons — not only was it Halle’s first Oscar, but her win marked the first time a Black woman took home the accolade for Best Actress at the Academy Awards.

Lee Celano / AFP via Getty Images

It also hasn’t happened since. With the 20-year anniversary of her Oscar triumph coming up this weekend, Halle reflected on the historic moment in a new interview with the New York Times.

Lisa O’connor / AFP via Getty Images

“I don’t have any memory of it,” she said, recalling her famous acceptance speech at the 2002 ceremony. “I don’t even know how I got up there. It was totally a blackout moment.”

Amy Sussman / Getty Images

“All I remember is Russell Crowe saying, ‘Breathe, mate,'” she said. “And then I had a golden statue in my hand, and I just started talking.”

Amy Sussman / Getty Images for the Critics Choice Association

The Moonfall star also noted that, while Best Actress nominations have gone to Black women since the early 2000s, her win still stands alone. “It didn’t open the door,” she said. “The fact that there’s no one standing next to me is heartbreaking.”

Christopher Polk / NBCUniversal / NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

You can check out Halle’s full New York Times interview here.

BuzzFeed Daily

Keep up with the latest daily buzz with the BuzzFeed Daily newsletter!

Read The Full Article Here