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Halle Berry says her historic Oscar win ‘meant nothing’ in the fight for diversity

Low: Halle Berry said the 2016 Oscar nominations were terrible: Getty Images
Low: Halle Berry said the 2016 Oscar nominations were terrible: Getty Images

Halle Berry has said that her Oscar win has “meant nothing” for Hollywood diversity.

The US star became the first black woman to win the Best Actress Oscar back in 2002, dedicating the award to “every nameless, faceless woman of colour”.

But 15 years after her historic win, Berry is still the only woman of colour to have won the top acting prize at the Academy Awards.

The actress now claims that the win has done nothing to help redress the balance of diversity in the film industry, following the ‘#OscarsSoWhite’ backlash in 2016.

Historic: Halle Berry poses with her Best Actress in a Leading Role Oscar for Monster's Ball (Frederick M. Brown/Getty)
Historic: Halle Berry poses with her Best Actress in a Leading Role Oscar for Monster's Ball (Frederick M. Brown/Getty)

Talking about when she heard the 2016 Oscar nominations, Berry said she felt that it was one of her “lowest” moments.

“It's troubling, to say the least," she told Teen Vogue. “It was probably one of my lowest professional moments because I sat there and I remembered that speech.”

“I was profoundly hurt by that, and saddened by that,” she continued.

“It inspired me to try to get involved in other ways, which is why I want to start directing. I want to start producing more.

“I want to start making more opportunities for people of colour. I have conversations more deeply with Academy members, and I’m trying to figure out how to help and add more diversity to the Academy.”

Berry said that the change needs to come from within the industry, with more diversity in writing and producing roles.

“I think black people. . .people of color. . .only have a chance to win based on how much we’re allowed to put out. That says to me that we need more people of color writing, directing, producing—not just starring. We have to start telling stories that include us.”

Since Berry’s Oscar win, eight women of colour have been nominated for the top acting prize, including Irish actress Ruth Negga who was nominated this year for her role in Loving.