At Sunday night’s 27th annual Critics Choice Awards, the legendary Halle Berry delivered a speech that brought many to their feet and even Lady Gaga to tears.
During the telecast, Berry was honored with the SeeHer Award by Insecure star and creator Issa Rae. In her speech, Berry advocated for the impact of storytelling.
“[Storytelling] can raise our consciousness and help us think outside of ourselves and our individual circumstances,” Berry said upon receiving the honor,” as reported by People. “I realized that we truly need to see each other’s reality — no matter how uncomfortable it makes us — so that we can stop judging and stop pointing fingers, but rather find compassion and empathy for others.”
In 2002, Berry made history as the first Black woman and woman of color to take home The Academy Award Best Actress for 'Monster’s Ball.'
Throughout her career, the revered actress has become known for her leading roles in films such as Gothika, Losing Isaiah, Jungle Fever, Die Another Day, Introducing Dorothy Dandrige and her role as Storm in the X-Men franchise.
“I’ve been in the business for 30 years, and I used to think that if I could play the part of a white man, then I was winning. But you know what, wanna know why that didn’t work? Because, if you didn’t know, I’m not a white man,” Berry said. “So, for those roles to work, they would have to be substantially changed. It would have to be written with the reality of my journey, in all of its beauty and all of its pain.”
During her speech, the camera cut to singer and actress Lady Gaga, who was reduced to the tears at Berry’s speech.
“This is why I am so grateful to be standing and living in this moment where women are standing up and we are telling our own stories,” Berry said. “We will use our emotional intelligence and we will tell stories that don’t fit preconceived notions. No, we will tell stories that see us fully in all our multitudes and contradictions. Because we are confident and we are scared. We are vulnerable and we are strong. … We are everything and all of that and all at the same time!”
Berry was recently seen in the lead role of Roland Emmerich’s film 'Moonfall 'and the Netflix film 'Bruised,' which marked her directorial debut.
Berry was recently seen in the lead role of Roland Emmerich’s film Moonfall and the Netflix film Bruised, which marked her directorial debut.
“If we deny our complexities, then we deny our humanity. We won’t always be pretty, and we will never be perfect, but what we will be is always honest and true — no matter how uncomfortable that makes you. These are the stories we have to fight to tell, and these are the stories that the world needs to see. So, to every little girl who feels unseen and unheard, this is our way of saying to you: We love you and we see you, and you deserve every good thing in this world.”
