June 29 (UPI) — Halle Berry thinks little has changed in Hollywood since she became the first African-American woman to win an Oscar for Best Actress in 2002.
The 50-year-old actress said in an interview with “Teen Vogue” editor-in-chief Elaine Welteroth at the 2017 Cannes Lions Festival that she was “profoundly hurt” by the lack of diversity at the 2016 Academy Awards.
“A few years ago when … there was a complete blackout for us, it was probably one of my lowest professional moments,” she said of how no people of color were nominated in any of the major acting categories.
Berry had dedicated her 2002 Oscar for “Monster’s Ball” to “every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened,” but felt her award was ultimately meaningless during the 2016 ceremony.
“I sat there and I thought, ‘Wow, that moment really meant nothing. That meant nothing! I thought it meant something, but I think it meant nothing.’ And I was profoundly hurt by that and saddened by that,” she said.
“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 being a part of making more opportunities for people of color,” Berry shared. “Black people, people of color only have have a chance to win based on how much product that we’re allowed to put out.”
Berry previously said at an AOL Maker’s Conference in February 2016 that it was “heartbreaking” that no other woman of color has won Best Actress. The actress executive produced and will next star in the movie “Kidnap.”
