Why Halle Berry Says Oscar Win Didn’t “Change” Course of Her Career

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For Halle Berry, winning an Oscar is strictly business. 

Halle Berry, the first Black woman to win an Oscar for Best Actress (for her role in Monster’s Ball in 2001), recently revealed that her historic win didn’t lead to as many career opportunities as she expected.

She told The Cut in a recent interview that winning the Oscar didn’t dramatically alter her career path. She admitted she’d expected a flood of script offers immediately after the award, imagining they’d ‘show up outside my front door.’

Winning an Oscar was a major achievement for the 59-year-old actress, but she also revealed that being a Black woman created challenges in getting more acting opportunities.

I was so incredibly proud of the work, but the next day, I was still facing the same old realities as a Black actress. I remember directors actually questioning how casting me would affect the entire narrative! They’d ask things like, ‘If we cast a Black woman, does that mean we have to cast a Black man too? Would that make this a ‘Black movie,’ and would audiences overseas even be interested?’ It was honestly disheartening to hear them prioritize potential sales over simply telling a good story with a diverse cast.

Halle, who has a 17-year-old daughter, Nahla, with Gabriel Aubry and a 12-year-old son, Maceo-Robert, with Olivier Martinez, also shared the advice she gave to actress Cynthia Erivo, a three-time Oscar nominee.

Halle remembered saying, ‘You absolutely deserve whatever’s happening, but I doubt it will fundamentally change who you are.’ She also questioned, ‘Don’t let this be the thing that proves you’re doing the right thing, okay?’

Despite any awards she’s received, the actress from Strictly Business is aware of her abilities. She famously won a Razzie Award for Worst Actress for her role in Catwoman and even accepted it in person, playfully mimicking how she’d react to winning an Oscar – which she had done a few years earlier.

You know, after years in this industry, I’ve realized something really important: awards and praise are lovely, but they don’t actually reflect how good your work is. What truly matters is the quality of what you create, and focusing on that is what’s kept me grounded. It’s about the work itself, not the recognition.

She explained that winning an Oscar didn’t define her as an actress, just as a Razzie award didn’t define her as a bad one.

After a successful career, she’s simply grateful to continue landing roles that she finds meaningful.

At almost 60 years old, she expressed joy that she continues to work in the film industry doing what she loves, stating simply, ‘I’m succeeding.’

Halle isn’t the only celebrity who’s been open about something surprising. Here are more stars who’ve shared some really interesting things about themselves…

In June 2024, athlete Jason Kelce jokingly tweeted, “What kind of weirdo washes their feet…?” after a fan commented that he appeared to not wash his legs or feet.

The retired Philadelphia Eagles player later doubled down on his comments.

Okay, let’s be real – I have very specific standards when it comes to personal space, and foot washing is definitely a line! I was chatting with my brother Travis on our podcast, New Heights, and we were joking about this. Honestly, the thought of someone washing my feet is…a lot. But, I will admit, if I see actual dirt, I’m a bit of a clean freak and will take care of it myself. It’s just…who else would do that?

More than ten years after actor Kristen Stewart shared a story about witnessing a clown’s death in a car accident at the circus when he was a child, he confessed that the story was fabricated.

Robert remembered telling The New York Times Style Magazine in December 2024 that he reacted with complete surprise. He said he immediately asked, “What on earth? Are you possessed?”

As for what he said during the 2011 Today interview promoting his film Water for Elephants?

I remember when it happened – one of the clowns actually died. He was driving his tiny joke car, and it exploded – a real explosion, not just a gag. It was absolutely horrifying; everyone just scattered, running for their lives. It was a truly terrifying moment.

Grandma knows best.

In an October 2022 episode of The Kardashians, Kim Kardashian shared a personal story about how her grandmother, Mary Jo “MJ” Campbell, unexpectedly played a role in a private moment with her then-boyfriend, Pete Davidson.

Kim Kardashian told MJ, Kris Jenner, and Khloé Kardashian that she and Pete Davidson were at the Beverly Hills Hotel when she remembered something her grandmother told her. She explained, ‘My grandma said the best way to truly live life is to have sex in front of a fireplace.’ So, she and Pete acted on that advice while staying at the hotel, doing it as a tribute to Kris.

Grandma’s reaction? A nod of approval.

Kim found it unsettling to think about her grandmother before intimacy, and MJ responded by saying she understood, acknowledging she hadn’t always been as mature.

Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher have a very close family—including their children, 8-year-old Wyatt and 6-year-old Dimitri—and their love for each other is endless.

So much so, that the Black Swan actress revealed they keep an open-door policy at home.

She told TopMob News in September 2022 that this even extends to the bathroom. She explained that her family has simply accepted all normal bodily functions as a regular part of life, for better or worse, and the kids have grown up with that understanding.

Mila explained that she finally gave in after her family repeatedly asked to come inside. She said she eventually thought, ‘Never mind, I’ll just leave the door open.’

Pre-kids, she might not have imagined she’d flush that particular boundary away.

She said she never imagined she’d be comfortable enough to use the restroom with the door open.

Ghouls just want to have fun.

During an October 2022 episode of The View, while discussing a woman who claimed her home was haunted by “sexual ghosts,” Sara Haines posed a surprising question to her fellow panelists: Could someone actually get pregnant after having sex with a ghost?

Luckily, Joy Behar, her co-host, had a playful response, joking, “I’ve had encounters with a few ghosts and never gotten pregnant.”

“I’m going to leave that comment as is,” Whoopi Goldberg responded. “I’m not sure everyone heard what Joy said, but I’m choosing not to address it further.”

Jenna Bush Hager and Hoda Kotb are very close friends, but Hoda recently learned something surprising about Jenna. While preparing for an episode of Today with Hoda and Jenna, Hoda found out that Jenna never wears underwear.

Hoda Kotb shared a funny story from a November 2022 episode of Today with Hoda and Jenna. She explained that they both needed to quickly change outfits and had to run back to the dressing room. While there, Hoda realized Jenna Bush Hager doesn’t wear underwear.

Jenna’s rationale? Well, no underwear might just be more convenient to her.

Oh my gosh, she actually said it makes her look better! Like, a prettier shape! And she totally gets it – less stuff to pack! Seriously, she’s right, there are SO many good things about it, it’s amazing!

Looks like someone hasn’t been keeping up.

Britney Spears related to a popular line from Keke Palmer – “He could be walking down the street and I wouldn’t know a thing” – revealing she wasn’t familiar with Pete Davidson or Scott Disick.

Britney shared a funny video from March featuring Pete Davidson—who was dating Kim Kardashian at the time—and Kourtney Kardashian’s ex, Scott Disick, having a night out. She said the video had her laughing a lot.

I was so happy to see Britney repost something! She said she didn’t know who was in the video, but it cracked her up – and honestly, me too! It was just a really fun, lighthearted moment she shared.

Before Chris Evans became famous as Captain America and was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2022, Jana Kramer dated him and thought he was a really cute heartthrob.

The singer shared on her podcast, Whine Down with Jana Kramer, that this happened over ten years ago. While she doesn’t remember exactly how many times they went out, she does clearly remember their final meeting.

Jana, who was around 26 at the time, said Chris asked her to come over when he had some friends visiting from Boston.

Jana recalled that the last thing she remembered was her partner going to the bathroom right after she’d gone, noting that eating asparagus can change the smell of urine. They didn’t spend the night together; he stayed up late with friends, and she left his house the next morning feeling embarrassed.

She added, “I never heard from him again.”

Not all of these confessions are amusing.

In December, television writer Elisabeth Finch confessed that she had fabricated a story about having a rare bone cancer. She originally shared this false diagnosis with ELLE magazine eight years prior, and it even became the basis for a plotline on Grey’s Anatomy.

Elisabeth recently shared with The Ankler newsletter that a lie she told at age 34 was the biggest regret of her life. She explained that the lie grew over time and became a heavy burden. She also clarified that she has never been diagnosed with cancer.

Finch, who was temporarily removed from his role on the ABC medical show before ultimately quitting, admitted, “I messed up, and it was completely unacceptable. There’s no excusing what I did.”

Beauty is pain, but Kim Kardashian might be able to stomach it.

The reality star told The New York Times she’d consider almost any procedure to look younger.

She admitted in June that she’d consider doing almost anything for younger-looking skin, even something as unpleasant as eating waste. She stated she ‘just might’ go that far.

Kim told Allure in July 2022 that she was mostly kidding when she made the comment, but admitted it wasn’t a completely awful idea.

Kim thought for a moment and then said, ‘Honestly, I’d probably eat something awful if someone promised it would make me look younger – even if it meant eating a bowl of poop every day.’

She wasn’t sure how much she could eat. “Perhaps just a small bite,” she said. “I definitely couldn’t manage a full bowl.”

Jelly Roll could’ve used some saving from himself.

During an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show in April 2025, the singer of “Save Me” shared a truly embarrassing story, and he didn’t leave out any details.

“I pooped myself one time,” he admitted. “I did, I’m sorry.”

To be honest, Jelly Roll (whose real name is Jason Bradley DeFord) didn’t intend to cause such serious harm.

He firmly believed it was just a misunderstanding. “I sincerely apologize,” he said. “I saw the audience quickly turn from supportive to completely against me.”

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2026-02-03 17:22