Biography of Halle Berry

Halle Berry is an American actress, and the first Afro-American to win an Academy Award. A former fashion model, she has also won awards like the Golden Globe and Emmies. Commencing her acting career with a short-lived television series; 'Living Dolls' in 1989, she has come a long way to become one of the most sought-after actress in Hollywood.

Halle was born in Ohio, United States on August 14, 1966 to Judith Ann and Jerome Jesse Berry. She was raised by her mother alone after she got divorced, when Halle was just four years old. She graduated from Bedford High School and later joined Cuyahoga Community College to study broadcast journalism. Eventually, she decided to leave journalism studies and chose to make a career in modeling. She joined an acting school in Chicago with a dream of becoming an entertainer some day. She won numerous beauty pageant contests including Miss Teen Ohio, Miss Teen All American and Miss USA World.

Although her acting career started with a TV series in 1989, Halle Berry was introduced to Hollywood by 1991 Spike Lee movie; 'Jungle Fever'. Her first noteworthy portrayal came in 1995 when she played the character of Khaila Richards in the film 'Losing Isaiah'. In 1998, she received the Golden Globe as well as the Emmy Award for her portrayal of Dorothy Dandridge in 'Introducing Dorothy Dandridge'. She became the first Afro-American woman to win an Academy Award in the year 2001, after she won the best actress award for the film 'Monster's Ball'.

Halle Berry also played a bond girl in the 2002 Bond flick, 'Die Another Day'. Other notable films in her career include 'The Flintstones' (1994), 'Race the Sun' (1996), 'X Men' (2001), 'X2: X-Men United' (2003), 'Gothika' (2003), 'X-Men: The Last Stand' (2006) and 'Things We Lost in the Fire' (2007). She also lent her voice for 2005 animated flick 'Robots'.

Halle Berry won many awards, ranging from Oscars to BAFTA, however her sporting spirit was highlighted in 2005 when she in person, received the Razzie Award - given for the worst talent in the film industry, for her 2005 film 'Catwoman'.

In 1993, Halle Berry married David Justice, a baseball player. After spending three years together they divorced in 1996. Her second marriage was with musician Eric Benet in 2001, but this marriage was short-lived as they separated within two years in 2003. At present, she is dating supermodel Gabriel Aubry. On March 16, 2008 she gave birth to a girl child; Nahla Ariela Aubry.

A diabetic herself, Halle Berry volunteers for Juvenile Diabetes Association. In 2006, Berry along with other Hollywood actors like Pierce Brosnan and Cindy Crawford fought and won against Cabrillo Port Liquefied Natural Gas that was proposed off the Malibu coast.

Halle Berry had her own share of controversies as well. She was sentenced to 200 hours community service when she was found guilty in a hit and run case in 2000. In 2001, she sparked another controversy by agreeing to film a nude scene for the movie 'Swordfish' after the fees were hiked.

In 2003, 'For Him' Magazine ranked Halle Berry at the 1st position in the list of 100 Sexiest Women in the World; while in 2008 she was named the Sexiest Woman Alive by Ensquire Magazine. At 42, this is indeed a great achievement for this fabulous actress.