Tuesday, February 10, 2009

TheTVObserver: Halle Berry


Halle Berry is one of the most interesting stars and she’s had the most amazing career. TheTVObserver’s StarSpread presents Halle Berry…enjoy

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.

She was also registered as a member of Bearcats cheerleaders at her high school. Go Figure!

She 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 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.

Trivia
# Crowned "Sexiest Woman Alive" by men's magazine Esquire (October 2008).


# Chosen the World's Most Fabulous 40-Something Celebrity in a poll conducted by In Touch Weekly magazine in July 2007.

# Ranked 6th in In Touch magazine's poll of the Best Legs in Hollywood (January 2007).

# Said in an interview with Parade magazine in March 2007 she was so depressed after her 1997 breakup with ex-husband and baseball star David Justice that she contemplated suicide.

# Earned the 6th position in In Touch magazine countdown of top 10 "Best Bottoms In Hollywood" in August 2007.

# Made the list of People magazine's "100 Most Beautiful People" issue (April 2006).

# Placed the 6th on FHM magazine's annual list of "100 Sexiest Women in the World" in 2006.

# Named Woman of the Year by Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Theatricals by January 2006.

# Signed a deal with Coty Beauty U.S. to design her own fragrance and star in the advertising campaign (February 2008).

# Listed the 2nd in People Magazine's list of Best-Dressed Women of 2006, named "The Classic" who is a master at picking outfits that fit well.

# Included in The Hollywood Reporter's annual list of the Highest-Paid Actresses in Hollywood two times in a row; 2006 (No. 6) and 2007 (No. 10).

# Picked 1st on Maxim Magazine's list of 9 Hottest Pregnant Women, Ever (November 2007).

# Chosen as the World's 3rd Most Beautiful Woman in the June 2006 poll conducted by the UK magazine Eve.

# Signed a profitable deal with the fashion giant Donatella Versace to be the star of their upcoming print campaign by Nov 2005.

# Donated two of her designer gowns to Bedford High to be auctioned during its annual prom fashion show (April 2005) with the money raised used to send its students on a field trip to the Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati.

© 2009. TheTVObserver. All Rights Reserved. Pictures used on TheTVObserver StarSpread graphics and informed sourced from third parties are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved. StarSpread is a brand of TheTVObserver. All Rights Reserved.

No comments: