Halle Berry

Halle Maria Berry, born on August 14, 1966 in Cleveland, Ohio, is a notable American actress. Her father, Jerome Berry, is an African American who was a former hospital attendant, while her mother, Judith Ann Hawkins, is a white English-born who used to work as a psychiatric nurse. When she was four years old her parents divorced and from that time Berry, who has an older sister, Heidi, lived with her lovely mother.

Berry attended Heskett Middle School in Bedford, Ohio before she enrolled Bedford High School, Ohio where she proved herself to be a popular student who became an honor society member, editor of the school paper, class president and prom queen. Besides, she was also registered as a member of Bearcats cheerleaders at her high school. Graduated from Bedford High she next attended Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland, Ohio. Born to be a beauty, she followed several beauty contests, including Miss Ohio USA, Miss Teen All American, Miss USA, and Miss World. In the late 1980's she moved to Chicago to pursue a modeling career as well as acting and got her first acting project which was television series for local cable by Gordon Lake Productions called "Chicago Force."

Berry first arrival into the 'walk of fame' began at her 17-year age when she won the Miss Teen All-American Pageant, representing the state of Ohio in 1985 and when she became the first runner-up in the Miss USA Pageant in 1986. Soon after her participation in the pageant, she started her career as a model, which led to her first weekly ABC TV series, the 1989's "Living Dolls" where she played as brainy Emily Franklin. The year of 1991 was the time for Berry to begin her career breakthrough as she played the role of Vivian, a drug addict in "Jungle Fever." She later on continued to play in such movies, as the "Flintstones" where she played the part of Sharon Stone. In 2000, she performed the superhero Storm in the successful film "X-Men," and starred in "Monster's Ball" for which she won the Best Actress Oscar in 2002, becoming the first African American woman to win this award. Again, in 2003 Berry played in the more successful "X-Men 2" before she finally got the main role in "Gothika" (2003), a film focusing entirely on her.

In February 2000, Berry was reported to involve in an automobile accident when she struck another vehicle after running a red light and left the scene before the police arrived. Because of this accident she had to sustain a head injury, yet seriously denied her involvement in it and pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge. However, she later was found guilty and ordered to pay fine, make restitution to the other driver, perform community services, and was placed on three years' probation. One year later, that was in 2001, she came back to the stage and made her first topless scene in the film "Swordfish," a thirty second scene for which she was allegedly paid an additional $500,000. Didn't get the role in her first audition for an updated Charlie's Angels TV series by producer Aaron Spelling, Berry finally became famous for the Bond Girl Jinx role she performed in the 2002's "Die Another Day."

Be contrary to the fame and success she got from acting, Berry's marriage seems 'stuck' as both of her two marriages ended in a divorce. Her marriage in 1992 to baseball player David Justice ended in 1996, and her second to musician Eric Benet in 2001 had also resulted in a 2003 separation due to Benet's infidelity and had finally been legalized in early January 2005. Berry, though she has never had children from either husband, is close to her stepdaughter India, whom she legally adopted with ex-husband Benet.

The many beauty awards she got, make her worth enough to be a spokeswoman for Revlon cosmetics. Here are the list of her beauty awards; came top of FHM's 100 Sexiest Women in the World poll (2003), listed as one of People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" [1998], named one of the "50 Most Beautiful People" by People Magazine in 2002, named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in People Magazine in 2003 for which she, by 2005, has appeared on this list seven times, voted the 10th Sexiest Female Movie Star in the Australian Empire Magazine September 2002, named one of the "50 Most Beautiful People" in People Magazine in 2004, voted as #7 on the "Top 100 Sexiest Women 2004" in FHM [DK], named one of the Top 10 Authentic Beauties in 2004, voted #7 on VH1's "100 Hottest Hotties", and last of all she was ranked #15 in Stuff magazine's "102 Sexiest Women in the World" (2002). This occurrence proves Berry's diabetes and 85% lost hearing due to a physical encounter with a boyfriend in the early 90s do not prevent her to be a success actress and woman.

Among the many famous names mentioned to bring home the prize at Golden Raspberry Awards ceremony, held on February 26, 2005, in Los Angeles, Halle Berry was one to get Worst Actress Razzie Award for her portrayal in "Catwoman," which favorably won four awards including Worst Director, Worst Picture and Worst Screenplay. Back then to her private life, the actress who's despairing to find the best man who won't cheat her like her ex-husband Eric Benet did, once reported to look for a sperm donor as her first option before she comes to adoption just to have another child of her own. Shortly after the statement released, Berry was spotted out on a date with rapper Heavy D, whose spokesperson claims both just friends and nothing more between. Speculation on their romance was put to rest as it was later on confirmed that Berry dated Versace model Gabriel Aubry.

Meanwhile, undaunted by the Razzie Award she got, Berry afterwards moved on to reprise her role as Storm in "X-Men: The Last Stand" (2006). Much to her delight, the superhero flick amazingly made its way to garner a total gross of almost $460 million worldwide, consequently bringing her back to the spotlight that in turn led her to more acting offers. For two years ahead, there have already been at least six big screen features she got attached to, namely "Perfect Stranger", "Things We Lost in the Fire", "Class Act", "Who Is Doris Payne?", "Nappily Ever After", and "Tulia" in which she would play opposite Billy Bob Thornton as an attorney who attempts to expose a corrupt and racially motivated rash of drug convictions in the town.

After initially denying tabloid reports on her being pregnant, the movie siren came out of the closet and confirmed in September 2007 that she indeed was three months pregnant with Aubry's child.