Halle Berry Explains Why Her Oscar Win Now Means "Nothing"

Fifteen years ago, Halle Berry made history as the first (and still only) black woman to win Best Actress at the Oscars. The Academy still has a long way to go when it comes to diversifying its ranks, and recognizing performances by people of color, and movie studios also still have a fair distance to travel in telling stories from a diverse array of perspectives. Even as the Academy adds new members to bring different voices into the conversation, it says something that major trades are in astonishing denial that a problem even exists. While Berry’s Oscar was cited as a win for progress, the industry hasn’t made the strides that many predicted, and for the actress, it has taken the luster off her win.

Speaking with Teen Vogue, Berry reveals that the #OscarsSoWhite campaign opened her eyes to what her Oscar really meant.

“It was probably one of my lowest professional moments… I sat there and I really thought, ‘Wow, that moment really meant nothing. It meant nothing. I thought it meant something, but I think it meant nothing. 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 making more opportunities for people of color. I have conversation[s] more deeply with Academy members and trying to figure out how to help add more diversity to the academy. These kinds of groups have to start changing.”

READ MORE: Hollywood Still Has A Huge Diversity Problem

Berry is also aware that unless more movies are being made by people from different backgrounds, the opportunities to win awards will be limited.

“Black people, people of color, only have a chance to win [an Oscar] based on how much product we’re allowed to put out. We need more people of color writing, producing, directing, not just starring. We have to start telling stories that include us,” she added.

Berry might be back in the Oscar conversation this year with “Mustang” director Deniz Gamze Ergüven‘s drama “Kings,” but it seems the actress has more important things on her mind at the moment. [via Screen Daily]