Halle Maria Berry (born August 14, 1966) is an American actress and producer. She began her career as a model, entering several beauty contests, finishing as the first runner-up in the Miss USA pageant and coming in sixth in the Miss World 1986.
Berry made her acting debut in 1989 with a role in the television series Living Dolls. She went on to appear in a number of films and television shows throughout the 1990s, including Jungle Fever (1991), Boomerang (1992), The Flintstones (1994), and Losing Isaiah (1995).
Berry's breakthrough role came in 2001 when she starred as Leticia Musgrove in the film Monster's Ball. Her performance in the film was widely praised, and she became the first African American woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress.
Berry has gone on to star in a number of other successful films, including X-Men (2000), Die Another Day (2002), Gothika (2003), Catwoman (2004), and Cloud Atlas (2012).
In addition to her acting career, Berry is also a successful producer. She has produced a number of films, including Frankie & Alice (2010), Lackawanna Blues (2005), and The Call (2013).
Berry is a vocal advocate for a number of causes, including women's rights, racial equality, and animal welfare. She is a role model for many young women and is known for her beauty, her talent, and her activism.