Hollywood actress Halle Berry has expressed disappointment over the lack of recognition for black women in the Academy Awards' ‘Best Actress’ category since she won in 2002.
In the new Apple TV+ documentary Number One Call On the Sheet, which explores the experiences of black actors in Hollywood, Berry said the system is not designed to celebrate black women in leading roles.
“The system is not really designed for us, so we have to stop coveting that which is not for us,” she said. “At the end of the day, what truly matters is how we touch people’s lives. That is what art is about.”
Berry remains the only black woman to have won the Oscar for Best Actress, having received the honor for her role in Monster’s Ball. While several black actresses have won in the Best Supporting Actress category, none has secured the leading role award since Berry’s historic win.
She previously shared her disappointment in 2021, calling it heartbreaking that no other black woman had won in the category after her.
Over the years, 13 black actresses have been nominated for Best Actress, including Cynthia Erivo, who was nominated twice. This year, Erivo was nominated for her role in Wicked but lost to Anora star Mikey Madison.
Berry, now 58, has also won a Primetime Emmy and a Golden Globe in her career.
