33 Years Ago She Started in Film, Now She’s an Oscar-Winning Star! Can You Guess Who?

Halle Berry is a true star. Acclaimed in 2002 for her role in “Monster’s Ball,” she became the first woman of color to win an Oscar for Best Actress. Her filmography is impressive, including hits like “X-Men,” “Swordfish,” “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum,” and “Cloud Atlas.”

What was her first film role?

After being crowned Miss World in 1986, Berry moved to New York in 1989 to pursue acting. After some initial struggles, she landed television roles, including a part in the short-lived series “Living Dolls,” a spin-off of “Who’s the Boss?” The show was canceled after just 12 episodes. She then moved to Los Angeles and secured a small but significant role in “Jungle Fever” (1991), directed by the rising Spike Lee, famous for “Do The Right Thing” (1989).

Berry fought to portray Vivian, known as “Viv,” a drug addict living with “Gator,” played by Samuel L. Jackson, who is also an addict. Berry had only a few scenes, but her compelling presence foreshadowed the powerful performances that would define her career. This first major screen role was a deliberate choice:

“I intentionally did not want to play the gorgeous girl…”, Berry later told W Magazine. “My mission was to remove that part of my persona, and Spike gave me the chance to do that. From early on, I accepted roles that did not rely on my looks, which helped me build credibility in my field.”

What came after “Jungle Fever”?

Following her debut in “Jungle Fever,” Berry appeared in the romantic comedy “Strictly Business,” then starred alongside Eddie Murphy in “The Last Boy Scout” and “Boomerang,” before leading the miniseries “Queen,” where she played the daughter of a plantation owner and a slave.

The latter half of the 1990s was mixed; she appeared in both “Executive Decision” and “The Flintstones.” While some of her movies did not make it to France, her role as Storm in “X-Men” (2000) catapulted her into the Hollywood limelight. In 2002, she won the Best Actress Oscar for “Monster’s Ball” and played the leading lady, Jinx Johnson, in the James Bond film “Die Another Day.” Her career took off and has not slowed since.