Fast Facts About Halle Berry's Life

Actor Halle Berry is one of the most celebrated and talented entertainers of our time. She has starred in countless big box movies, including "Losing Isaiah," "Gothika," and Monster's Ball." Berry is a bonafide Bond Girl (which is a hard club to get into,) having acted in "Die Another Day." She has snagged coveted awards, including a groundbreaking Academy Award and a Screen Actor's Guild Award in 2002, an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award in 2000, and countless other nods to her outstanding work onscreen. Berry has graced just about every magazine under the sun and is a director, a mother, and a friend. 

Because she is wildly popular, the adoring public knows much about Berry, like the extent of her acting work, her high-profile relationships, breakups, and her film achievements. However, not everything about Berry is common knowledge. These lesser-known facts give fans the whole picture of the woman in front of the cameras, not just the media-driven parts. She deserves every drop of happiness, success, and fortune that comes her way. Berry is a beautiful, motivated soul who has walked through fire to get to where she is today.

Actor Halle Berry had a rough start to life. Raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Berry was the product of a biracial couple, witnessed addiction at an early age, and became a child of divorce. Her parents split when Berry was four. Berry revealed in an Instagram post that her father battled with alcohol addiction. Because of his struggles, the two were never able to have the bond they should have, nor were her mom and dad able to stay together and create a happy home environment. 

Following her father's absence, she and her sister were raised by her mother, a psychiatric nurse. Growing up a Black child of a single white parent in the 60s and 70s posed its fair share of issues and struggles with a young Berry. In an AARP interview, she discussed how after her father left, members of the African American side of her family wanted nothing or little to do with her. Berry watched her mother fight through anything and everything that came her way and attributes her own perseverance to the qualities she witnessed in her mom's experiences.

During Berry's teen years, which were spent in a predominantly Caucasian educational setting, Berry strived for perfection in everything she did. Per Hello, Halle said, "It was sickening how much I craved being liked. I was Miss Everything – cheerleader, student senator, on the newspaper, the honor roll, you name it." This drive for approval, however, eventually led to doors opening beyond the classroom.

If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

By age 18, Halle Berry had set her sights on wowing the world with her beauty and grace — or rather, someone close to her had done it for her. Berry's boyfriend at the time desired pageant queen arm candy, so he took steps to make that happen without Berry's knowledge or consent. She told W Magazine that she opened a piece of mail congratulating her on making Miss Team Ohio. When she asked what the mail was referring to, her guy at the time said, "Oh, by the way, I sent your prom picture in, and now you have to go." So she took her poofy prom dress to the pageant circuit and did what she always did: succeeded.

Berry kept bringing home titles, making it all the way to the Miss USA Pageant, where she was first runner-up. Per Parade, she also came in 6th place at the Ms. World pageant. Following the beauty queen days, Berry headed for Chicago as an aspiring model. While at Second City, she was noticed for her natural acting talent, but being able to play the parts wouldn't be enough for Berry to make it in the cutthroat industry. Because of her beauty queen and modeling background, Berry had to work to be taken seriously. She explained to W Magazine that she steered clear of "pretty girl" roles and begged to read for parts that would set her apart from her dazzling looks. Her approach worked, and the rest is an award-laden history of success for Berry. 

Is Halle Berry's striking beauty due to good genetics, a fountain of youth tucked away in the backyard, or her penchant for healthy living? Looking at her lifestyle, we are going with Berry's healthy routines being the culprit behind her gorgeous face and frame.

Berry, like several other actors, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Since her diagnosis at age 19, she has lived the Keto life. Per Women's Health, Berry is a big believer in a low-carb, meat-based diet. She tends to skip breakfast and load up on Bulletproof coffee, almond milk, ghee, protein powder, and collagen before her daily workout, then fueling up with an early lunch. Berry's trainer shared with Hollywood Life that midday meals often consist of steak or chicken and dark leafy greens, and whole eggs. Snacks often include avocado, fruits and veggies, and bone broth. Dinner is likely a ketogenic stew or chili or lamb chops. 

Nourishing her body is critical, but so is keeping it moving. Berry told Women's Health that her exercise routines vary. She listens to her body, focusing on areas needing the greatest attention. Daily workouts (Berry gets moving six days each week) are driven by her desire to live a long and healthy life. "I always remind myself why I'm doing it. Since I had [kids] a little later in life, I want to be here for them. I want to live as long as I can and see my grandbabies."

Halle Berry has dominated the film industry for decades. With her charismatic personality, drop-dead gorgeous appearance, and mile-long resume, one might think she would easily walk into any movie role she set her sights on. The actor claims that notion isn't true. Not only have her stunning smile and chiseled cheekbones created working roadblocks, (she told W Magazine that she had to plead for a chance to read for her Award-winning Academy role in "Monster's Ball" and that direction Lee Daniels was appalled at the thought of beautiful Berry taking on the gritty character), she has notes racism in Tinseltown is sadly still very real. 

In a V Magazine interview with actor Laura Harrier, Berry explained the undertones of racism in Hollywood, citing her Academy Award as evidence that there is still much work to be done in the realm of equality, particularly as it pertains to Black women in entertainment. "My biggest heartbreak about that win is that it's been 20 years, and there's never been another one. And that's been a real heartbreak. And every year that goes by, it becomes more and more heartbreaking. In that moment, I thought, this really matters. And hearing what you just said affirms that it did matter. But I have to say, I question, at times, what did it mean, if anything really at all?" Berry is, of course, noting that since her win, no other African American woman has taken that award home.

Halle Berry is one of several famous entertainers who don't have their full range of hearing. She wasn't born with her disability, nor is it because of her Diabetes (per the CDC, hearing loss is twice as common in people with Type 1 Diabetes compared to their non-diabetic peers of the same age.) Berry lost her hearing because of physical abuse. She explained her sad situation at The Mayor's Fund Benefit in New York City in 2011 (via Respeciability.org). "It was only when I was in an abusive relationship and blood squirted on the ceiling of my apartment, and I lost 80 percent of my hearing in my ear that I realized I have to break the cycle." The cycle Berry was referring to was in reference to watching her mother be physically abused by her father.

Berry's experiences with abuse led to her involvement with the Jenesse Center, a domestic violence prevention and intervention organization. In 2015, almost 20 years post-hearing loss abuse, she revealed at a VIP cocktail benefit party for the organization (via People), that while it seems like Berry has moved past her dark days of abuse, she hasn't. She explained that she continued to struggle, and helping other women in similar situations not only aids them but helps heal her.

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.

Halle Berry has been lucky in her career but not as lucky in love. Now in her mid 50's, Berry has her Prince Charming in musician Van Hunt. She showered him with love while accepting her award at the 4th Annual Celebration of Black Cinema & Television event in 2021. "You know, I finally found love this year, everybody. I know you all have been on this painful journey with me. You've watched me fail, and fail, and fail, and fail. Besides directing my first movie, I also found the love of my life, and I know it's true."

The painful journey Berry describes is referencing her three failed marriages. Her first crack at matrimony was with baseball player David Justice. They wed in 1993, but they filed for divorce four years later. Amidst the split, Berry obtained a restraining order, causing speculation as to whether Justice had mistreated his wife, rumors he vehemently denied in a 2015 People interview. Berry met singer Eric Benet following her split from Justice, and they married in 2001. Berry became stepmom to Benet's daughter, India, but their fairytale came crashing down in 2003 thanks to Benet's infidelity. Berry later wed actor Oliver Martinez in 2013 following their son's birth but soon divorced, citing irreconcilable differences.  Berry was also in a five-year relationship with daughter Nahla's father, Gabriel Aubry, but the two never wed.

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.

Some famous former couples make co-parenting look like a piece of cake; others find it far more challenging. Halle Berry shares her daughter Nahla and son Maceo with two different fathers, former model Gabriel Aubry and actor Oliver Martinez, and navigating the myriad of complex relationships can be complicated and somewhat stressful for the famous mother. 

Berry shared with Women's Health that she occasionally speaks to a therapist to help her manage her feelings of guilt that surround motherhood, failed relationships, co-parenting, child support, and all that comes with this territory. "I have two different daddies, and I see [my kids] half the time. That's a lot to manage. So, I have to go sometimes to talk to people to help me figure out, 'How do I make the best decisions for my children? How do I help them deal with this life that we — my dads and I — have given them?' I feel guilty a lot. You think, 'God, I should've done better.' But at the same time, I'm reminded that we always have to take care of ourselves first because I can't be a good mother for my children if I'm not fundamentally happy and feeling good about myself."

So her journey with motherhood and co-parenting isn't picture-perfect, nor is it seamless, but Berry is raw, honest, and ready to work on herself to make the lives of her loved ones the very best they can be while seeking out her own joy.

You know you've made it to the big times when they make a Barbie out of you! Halle Berry is such a big deal that not one but two Barbies had to be made of the actor. In 2009, a collector's edition doll was fashioned to represent Berry's James Bond character Jinx Johnson from the movie "Die Another Day." The doll includes iconic Berry features and her Bond Girl bathing suit and belt. A second Barbie doll was also created to represent the likes of Berry's character, Patience Phillips, aka Catwoman, in the flick of the same name.

Berry is in good company when it comes to Barbie dolls. Plenty of other actors have been honored with plastic mini-me's. Jenifer Lopez, Johnny Depp, Cher, and Reese Witherspoon, to name a few, have all had dolls created in their likeness. Halle Berry won't ever have to question whether or not she made it to the top. Not only does she have dozens of awards to prove her massive success, but she has a duo of dolls to prove it, too!

Celebrities and fur babies go together like peanut butter and jelly. Many famous entertainers leave their long hours in front of the cameras behind for the comfort and cuddles of their four-legged friends. Halle Berry is an adamant animal lover who doesn't discriminate between purring pals and cute canines. While some people are strict dog people and others are cat caretakers only, Berry adores both her pups and kitties. 

One stroll through Berry's Instagram will tell you she can not get enough of her darling Labradoodles, Jackson and Roman. Berry doesn't adore only her dogs; she loves all dogs, and took a liking to the pups on the set of "John Wick 3." Berry bonded with the five pups used to play the main canine character and even had a hand in their training. Berry claimed to learn so much from that experience that she was able to take some of it home and use it on her own furry friends. Berry told television host Jimmy Fallon (via People), that she was able to teach her pups to "talk." The interview was followed up by a clip of her dog seemingly admitting to being in the "doghouse" for eating her children's hamburgers. 

Aside from her dogs, Berry is also a proud cat owner. She has a cat named Spanky and gave an emotional Instagram tribute to her deceased kitty, Playdough, who died of brain cancer at age 16.

Being one of the most popular actors in the world has given Halle Berry some notable friends. Now-deceased actor, Sydney Poitier, was among Berry's close confidants, and when he died, Berry took to Instagram to express the profound sadness she experienced losing her dear friend. Berry paid homage to his "measure of a man," his talent, grace, and kinship in her tribute. Going from one extreme to the other, Berry also hangs with housewives, like Garcelle Beauvais. The reality television star told Essence Magazine she and Berry get together and have playdates with their children. Beauvais claimed Berry loves that she is "not Hollywood," and as for her love for Berry, the Bravo star said, "What I love about her is that she loves being a mom, and so do I. We just want to be regular because this business is crazy."

Berry has plenty of famous friends, but her best gal pal isn't an A-lister. Fashion stylist Lindsay Flores has been Berry's ride-or-die for decades. Both Berry and Flores' Instagrams are packed with fun pics and videos of the two just being their wonderful authentic selves. While they adore each other (even referring to one another as "life wife"), they don't have mad love for one another's friends. In their Bad and Booshy Instagram series, they discuss friendship, saying and not liking each other's friends. The pair claims it doesn't matter because what they have trumps all the drama.

You gotta love a woman who isn't afraid to make herself happy. Halle Berry has a few fun indulgences, and she isn't afraid to share her love of them with the world. The starlet was asked by Allure Magazine to choose this or that, and when asked if she'd rather diet or indulge, she said, "Indulge. You can only keep up a diet for so long." It's true, and while Berry is a big believer in Keto living to help manage her diabetes, that doesn't mean she doesn't have a little fun every now and then. 

She told The Strategist that Bev Rose is a go-to cocktail for her. "I think wine in a can is the future. No matter where I'm going, I can still have a glass of wine. And it tastes good — canned drinks have really come a long way. I love Bev because it's sugar-free. I can drink it and not worry about my blood sugar levels because I am a diabetic." Her non-food indulgences include a serious shoe addiction, admitting to having hundreds of pairs and needing to display them outside of their boxes, so she doesn't lose track of what she has, cardio workouts, comedy flicks, and lush products like NatureLab Tokyo Perfect Shine Oil Mist and Esker Beauty Clarifying Body Wash.

Halle Berry is now beyond the baby years, but that doesn't mean she won't always long for those days. In 2021 she reminisced on her baby bump days on Instagram with a picture of her beautiful belly and a sentimental statement. "I'll never get over the wondrous miracle of growing a life inside my body as I've never felt more myself than when I was carrying my two children."

The actor revealed that carrying her two children was truly the highlight of her life. She is the proud mother to daughter Nahla, whom she and ex-partner Gabriel Aubry welcomed in 2008, and her son Maceo, who Berry and ex-husband Oliver Martinez welcomed in 2013. She revealed to InStyle that she felt sexiest when she was expecting. That is saying a lot considering she would look sexy wearing a head-to-toe paper bag! "I loved being pregnant. Had I started earlier, I probably would have had five children. Or, if I hadn't been busy trying to make movies, I would have been the perfect surrogate. All the hormones made me feel amazing. I was so alive with my purpose and my femininity. It felt like my body was doing what it was built to do."

Considering the many movies Halle Berry has been a part of over the entirety of her lengthy career, it is fair to say she has worked with a lot of actors. It might be more of a challenge to find stars she hasn't collaborated with as opposed to naming the celebrities she has. While she has teamed up with the likes of Keanu Reeves, Billy Bob Thornton, Eddie Murphy, John Travolta, and Robert Downey Jr, she has shared the screen with one famous actor more than once. 

She and Hugh Jackman have worked on six film projects over the years. They teamed up to create major motion pictures like "X-Men," "Swordfish," "X-Men 2," "X-Men: The Last Stand," "Movie 43," and "X-Men: Days of Future Past." The two are fans of each other's work — but also of each other. Jackman once took to Twitter to write, "Halle Berry. Halle Berry. Halle Berry. That's all I wanted to say! Halle Berry." While the actors' "X-Men" characters seemingly had a love affair, Jackman and Berry are strictly platonic working partners — no funny business here. 

Dozens of major motion pictures? Check. Countless awards and accolades? Check. Motherhood? Also a check. What more is there for Halle Berry to do in this life?

It seems the answer to this question is getting behind a camera. With the movie "Bruised," Berry pulled double duty and became the director and the project's leading actor. Berry didn't have intentions of involvement with the flick, per CBS, but when Blake Lively passed on it, Berry took the concept and remolded it to work for her. "I was reimagining what the story could be, should be, why I thought it would be more relevant if it were a middle-aged woman of color and not a young woman who is being offered another chance, but a middle-aged woman who is being offered a last chance. The stakes felt so much higher when you're at that stage in life, and you're really out of chances, and this is a do-or-die situation," explained Berry.

Berry knew this was meant to be her directorial debut. She told The Hollywood Reporter, "I was told a long time ago if you're going to be a filmmaker and tell a story, let it be something you love and something you know. And I feel like this is something I love and know." Her passion was evident and carried Berry through the long, grueling hours required by the film. Ultimately, her hard work paid off, as Netflix scooped up the movie. 

From growing up in an abusive home to hunkering down in a New York City homeless shelter, Halle Berry has certainly known hard times. However, at this stage in her life, those days of struggle seem long gone. Today, the wildly successful, stunningly beautiful middle-aged actor is living the good life, surrounded by love, family, friends, and a lo of cash. Thanks to her stellar acting abilities, countless major motion pictures, and a long-standing endorsement deal with beauty bigwig Revlon, Berry is now worth a staggering $90 million. 

Per Hello Magazine, Berry took all that dough and purchased her dreamy $8.5 million Malibu mansion as well as a $6 million pad in the Hollywood Hills. She makes big money, spends big money — but also gives away big money. She and fashion mogul Michael Kors teamed up to create Watch Hunger Stop, where for every watch sold, 100 meals were given to those in need. She has also lent her name and efforts to organizations revolving around domestic abuse and diabetes. She is heavily involved in work done at the Jenesse Center, remodeling its housing shelters, and became the first ambassador for the National Diabetes Education Program in 2004.

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.