Nearly two decades after breaking glass ceilings as the first Black female winner for Best Actress, Halle Berry still appears unhappy with how little has changed in recognizing Black women in this category.
Berry has spoken in recent interviews about how the systemic prejudices of the film world have meant this is still a painfully ongoing underrepresentation. Movies that have showcased triumphs from actresses like Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, and Renée Zellweger have passed, but Berry remains the only Black woman to have received such a top prize.
Berry said the likes of such actresses as Andra Day and Viola Davis were perfect examples of Black women who perform Oscar-worthy roles but are passed over for the highest award. Andra Day’s role in “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” and Viola Davis in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” received acclaim from both fans and critics. However, neither actress won the top award from the Academy. These omissions only go to reinforce the notion that, despite individual successes, systemic bias still dogs the Oscars.
Reflecting on that landmark victory in 2002, Berry explained that she hoped her win would have paved the way for other Black actresses. Over two decades later, she doesn’t believe initially thought that moment translated to the enduring movement she’d envisioned. “It didn’t open the door I thought it would,” Berry readily admitted, naming that lack of progress as one of her biggest disappointments in Hollywood. In as much as the latter was notably momentous, the fact that no other Black woman has won since then underscores a continuing problem of underrepresentation in major award categories.
This reflection from Berry also should be placed in the broader context of racial bias and exclusion within Hollywood. Where 2016 saw grassroots movements like #OscarsSoWhite calling for greater diversity and inclusivity in the entertainment world, Berry added that the Academy Awards have yet to catch up with those changes.
While there have been early steps over the last years regarding diversity in casting and storytelling within film and television, the Academy has yet to move fully with that shift when honoring Black women in the Best Actress category.
Having spoken about and believed in the inclusion of diversity for quite a long period now, Berry continues to be vocal about demanding change from the industry.
She called out the lack of representation on such prestigious award shows and, actually was an agent who pushed for more opportunities not only for people of color in front but also behind the camera. With Berry, it is never about the Oscars, but to build an industry where Black women among other underrepresented groups flourish without needing validation from awards.
