Halle Berry is tired of standing alone in Oscars history.
The star achieved a historic moment in 2002 when she became the first Black woman to win best lead actress at the Academy Awards. More than two decades later, Berry, who won for her role in “Monster’s Ball” says it’s “lonely” to still be the only Black performer to win an Oscar in the category.
On a recent episode of Trevor Noah’s “What Now?” podcast, Berry said even then, she knew the win “was bigger than me.”
While several Black actresses have won the best supporting actress Oscar over the years, “Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo this year stands the chance to become the first performer since Berry to take home gold for a lead role.
Berry, for one, hopes it comes to pass.
“I hope this year, someone stands next to me. This year, I hope it happens. Because I’m tired of occupying that space alone,” she told Noah on the podcast. “I hope this is the year.”
But even if it’s not, the “X-Men” star said she “was chosen in that moment to be a beacon of possibility. And I do think it served that purpose.”
Berry’s win stands as one of the most unforgettable moments in Oscars history. Revisit her watershed acceptance speech below:
Halle Berry Wins Best Actress: 74th Oscars (2002)
“Oh my God. Oh my God. I’m sorry. This moment is so much bigger than me. This moment is for Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll. It’s for the women that stand beside me – Jada Pinkett, Angela Bassett, Vivica Fox. And it’s for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened. Thank you. I’m so honored. I’m so honored. And I thank the Academy for choosing me to be the vessel for which His blessing might flow.
I want to thank my manager, Vincent Cirrincione. He’s been with me for twelve long years and you fought every fight, and you loved me when I’ve been up but, more importantly, you’ve loved me when I’ve been down. You have been a manager, a friend and the only father I’ve ever known. Really. And I love you very much. I want to thank my mom who has given me the strength to fight every single day to be who I want to be and to give me the courage to dream, that this dream might be happening and possible for me. I love you, Mom, so much. Thank you, my husband, who is just a joy
