Halle Berry Steals Oscar Show

Yahoo, Reuters ^ | March 25, 2002 | Jill Serjeant

[Sally II]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Halle Berry stole the show at Sunday's Oscars (news - web sites), becoming the first black woman to win a best actress Academy Award and accepting it with a weeping, emotion-filled speech that bought tears to the eyes of her worldwide audience.

Berry, 33, a rising star but hardly a household name, won for her role as a woman overtaken by rage and frustration in the racially charged movie "Monster's Ball" that is considered her best performance in a 10-year career.

Moments later she was joined in the record books by Denzel Washington as they became the first blacks to win both the best actor and best actress Oscars in 74 years of Academy Awards (news - web sites).

Last year's awards ceremony saw Hollywood sweetheart Julia Roberts whooping with unabashed delight at winning her first best actress Oscar.

Berry, who up until a few days ago had been considered an outsider for Hollywood's highest honor, looked about to faint.

With tears streaming down her face and gasping for breath, Berry dedicated her award to all the African-American women who had struggled before her to make their way in Hollywood.

"This moment is so much bigger than me. It's for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened," she said.

"I am so honored, I'm so honored, and I thank the Academy for choosing me to be the vessel from which this blessing might flow," Berry said, telling reporters afterward that she wondered how she would make it up the steps to the stage.

She emerged as a late favorite in a race that had been dominated by Nicole Kidman and Sissy Spacek until Berry proved the surprise winner of the Screen Actor's Guild two weeks ago.

Before Sunday, Sidney Poitier had been the only other African American to win a lead acting Oscar, getting the award for his 1963 performance in "Lilies of the Field."

. . . .

[Sally II]

Okay, I think Halle Berry is a lovely woman, and I'm sure she's as fine an actresss as any of them, though I haven't seen more than a couple of her films. But did her acceptance speech raise any alarms in people like it did in me. I ask, aside from the the Bay Area, what other centralized group of people can be more liberal that the denizens of Hollywood? And yet for as supposedly Liberal and Progressive Hollywood is they've been so racist that they are only now giving a best actress oscar to a black woman?!!! Is there a problem here with Hollywood Liberalism? Is it possible that even the Hollywood Liberals are racist?!! Or is black Hollywood over reacting a little? Or is it a little of both.

Reminds me, every once and a while I catch this ultra liberal station from Berkeley. And someone is always on there complaining about racism, about how blacks and now Arabs are being racially profiled or being looked at wrong --and yet they elected Barbara Lee as a congresswoman!!! Someone have any idea why places that are ruled by the left wing complain the most about racism? You'd think they would have the opposite result, wouldn't you??

[mlo]

Her acceptance speech was the most self-indulgent display I've ever seen at the Oscars.

[tacticalogic]

The most blatant case of petty theft I've ever seen.

[tallhappy]

Halle Berry Steals Oscar Show

Where'd she put it? Did they find it yet?

[PoisedWoman]

accepting it with a weeping, emotion-filled speech that bought tears to the eyes of her worldwide audience.

Tears, schmears. She made me turn away in embarrassment. She does her cause no good with these histrionics. Actually, a truly skillful actress might have made some good racial points, but Halle did not. Bad acting. Let's take her Oscar back.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Excellent. I've thought the same myself. The conclusion I came to was that liberals are really racists underneath and their guilt makes them think and behave the way they do. I've found that people often accuse others of what they themselves are guilty of (liberals anyway).

[Argus]

Is it possible that even the Hollywood Liberals are racist?!!

All liberals are racists, because they think skin color is the most important thing about a person. Hollywood epitomizes this attitude to an almost pathological degree. Item - in the tribute reel to Sidney Poitier, every participant was black, as if this were the only thing about Poitier worthy of notice. Item - Halle Berry's acceptance speech stressed her "blackness" first, acknowledging that she received the Oscar as a token - "The first Black woman to win Best Actress in a Leading Role" - rather than for actually giving the best performance of the year. Item - Halle, like the actresses she specifically paid tribute to in her speech - Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, and Diahann Carol - is mulatto, her "cafe au lait" complexion and "white" features matching Hollywood's standard of beauty. Actresses with "Negro" features like Hattie McDaniel and Whoopi Goldberg can win Best Supporting Oscars for "Mammy" parts, but don't hold your breath expecting a woman who really looks "Black" to get the top prize.

[Vladiator]

What does that mean?

[NYCVirago]

Her acceptance speech was the most self-indulgent display I've ever seen at the Oscars.

Julia Roberts' "I love my life" comment while announcing Denzel Washington as the Best Actor winner was rather annoying, too.

[lelio]

liberals are really racists underneath
While that is true, listening to Rush this morning I thought it was more of a publicity play. How can we make it seem like the country was racist up until now? Why, don't give a black woman an Oscar until the right moment so we can get more movie revenues.
Also Rush had a good point that Julia Roberts has enough clout to get whomever she feels like in a male role. How many of them were black?

[white trash redneck]

Keep in mind what the woman does for a living. She's a actress. I think her whole display last night was a calculated act.

[Ax]

Dang! It happened again! Why is it that every time the Oscars come on, it is my night to rearrange my sock drawer?

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Lefties are all racists. They can't help themselves.

But I thought Halle was great as "Storm" in the X-Men movie. She shoulda got the oscar just for that.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Did you see Sally Field?

[Sally II]

The conclusion I came to was that liberals are really racists underneath and their guilt makes them think and behave the way they do.

My thoughts exactly. And I agree with others that she did a horrible job of overacting in her acceptance speech. I only saw the clip of it after the show, and I had to laugh at Nicole Kidman's reaction. Kidman looked like she was trying very hard to turn her disgusted expression into one of empathy.

Anyhow, the big movers and shakers of Hollywood should be embarrassed by the implications of her speech. But knowing the Left, they'll find some way to deflect Berry's suggestions of Hollywood racism onto some unsuspecting conservatives.

Regarding some of the other comments, I wouldn't call her winning theft, but it does look like affirmative action. Did she have to kiss Billy Bob to get that Oscar?

[mombonn]

Diana Ross deserved an Oscar for "Lady Sings the Blues" waaay back when!

[dalebert]

Halle should have been smart and excepted on the merit of her work. She is half white. I noticed her white mother was with her last night.

[dougherty]

Her acceptance speech was the most self-indulgent display I've ever seen at the Oscars.

At first I thought she was having some kind of a seizure. She was out of control, rambling, ranting and embarassing to watch.

[linn37]

her white mama was keeping her down

[1Old Pro]

speech that bought tears to the eyes of her worldwide audience.

I laughed so hard I cried.

[biblewonk]

She is sure light in color for 'black'. I think there is a lot of white in her but it suits the liberals cause to call her black for now.

[1Old Pro]

Why is it that every time the Oscars come on, it is my night to rearrange my sock drawer?

LOL, you too. Well once a year it needs it.

[jrherreid]

My reaction also.

Also hilarious is that her white mother was there, her black father having dumped them 'way back when.

[r9etb]

"This moment is so much bigger than me. It's for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened," she said. I am so honored, I'm so honored, and I thank the Academy for choosing me to be the vessel from which this blessing might flow," Berry said

An interesting similarity between Berry's speech and the Song of Mary: for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. (Luke 1:48-50)

Ironically, the lovely Halle elevates the Academy to the status of God. Which from the Hollywood perspective is pretty much right on the mark.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

I did not stay up late enough to watch her live. I was happy for her UNTIL, all the " first african American to win" stuff. I heard she wanted more time for her acceptance because it had been "74 years" meaning that an " african American" had never won and should get more time. Please, I have lost all respect for her. I never had any for hollywood movie industry in the first palce. So did she win becasue she was black, or because she deserved it. Last night I would have thought she deserved it, now I think it was all political. Halle is as much african as I am a liberal.

[D-fendr]

Gee, and I thought the headlines today would be:

Hollywood ends 74 years of racism towards black actresses.

[1Old Pro]

Also hilarious is that her white mother was there, her black father having dumped them 'way back when.

Something I didn't know, now I'm even more amused.

[ctdonath2]

Halle Berry stole the show at Sunday's Oscars (news - web sites), becoming the first black woman to win a best actress Academy Award

"Black" woman? She's no more "black" than she is "white" - her mother is all-white! Kinda like calling Tiger Woods "black" when he's half-Asian and quarter-Caucasian. Some people are desparate to play the race card in their favor. ...and people wonder why racisim is still an issue...

Wish people (on all sides) would drop this racism thing and just recognize that Halle Berry is simply a super-hot babe who can act.

[rdww]

Unmentioned item... both best actress and best actor this year won for R-rated films. Looking at the top awards, anyone want to bet that more and more R films are getting Oscars? Hollywierd vs. the Family.

[Clemenza]

Ms. Berry is nothing more than Eye Candy. Besides, she gave the worst acceptance speech since Sally "You like me" Field.

[ctdonath2]

Yeah, they had cameras on her mother several times. Unquestionably "white".

[dougherty]

CNN is gloating over all of this with the Headline "Hollywood History". They just showed Halle after the awards talking to a reporter from CNN, and she was talking about 'feeling the love and support' from the audience last night. Wait a minute, aren't these people in the audience that she was feeling the love and support from, the very same people that vote for these awards, and the very same racists (in her mind) that have kept her and her sistahs down for 74 years??? LOL, what a hypocrite.

[Osinski]

Oh, so damn what she overreacted. What a bunch of clothesline gossips. Ask anyone on the street...she's black, and the first black woman to win an Oscar.

Not that Oscars mean a damn thing, but in the context of what some people consider them to be, she was thrilled. And yes, she's a good actress and black...what the h*ll problem do you have with that.

[ctdonath2]

Oh, but what a piece of candy! and nicely unwrapped in "Swordfish".

[CubicleGuy]

Where'd she put [the stolen Oscar show]? Did they find it yet?

It will probably turn up in a dumpster somewhere, after finding that no respectable pawn shop in L.A. would give it any appraisal value at all.

[FreeTally]

Something I didn't know, now I'm even more amused.

And FYI, her ex-husband is David Justice, who is also half white and half black. They have kids as well.

[zarf]

I thought her speech was sincere and enjoyed it. After growing up watching movies in which black women were nothing more then "step and fetch it" housekeeper stereotypes,
it's great to see her pay respect to those that paid the dues.

Respect and a knowledge for the history of one's profession is an important aspect of success.....

[Dialup Llama]

>>Her acceptance speech was the most self-indulgent display I've ever seen at the Oscars.

>Julia Roberts' "I love my life" comment while announcing Denzel Washington as the Best Actor winner was rather annoying, too.

The 'I'm King of the World' speech by James Cameron is truly tops for the most self-indulgent. It showed the human ego in full force, unmitigated by any modesty or sense of proportion.

[mamelukesabre]

pics please.

[ctdonath2]

Problem is they've degraded her wonderful moment by playing the race card. Ms. Berry was obviously, honestly, shocked and grateful for the award...and suddenly it's being abused for political gain.

[dougherty]

Calm down, you're taking a cue from Ms. Berry and over-reacting yourself. I guess if we see it differently than you do, we shouldn't discuss it. Yeah right!

[BrooklynGOP]

You gotta love how she dismisses the fact that she is half white. Why doesn't she refer to herself as "mixed" instead of African American?

[FreeTally]

With tears streaming down her face and gasping for breath, Berry dedicated her award to all the African-American women who had struggled before her to make their way in Hollywood.

Too bad she knows nothing of what she speaks. Her mom is white, and she married a man, David Justice, who was also half white and half black.

I also think its ironic that Berry wins an award after she takes her clothes off in two movies within a year. I wouldn't doubt that they gave her an award for finally getting nekkid.

[EllaMinnow]

The funny thing to me is that I haven't heard anyone mention Hattie McDaniel's name. The press is so busy buying into the new glorification of "Halle Berry is the first African-American actress to win an Oscar" that they are totally ignoring Hattie McDaniel. Halle is the first black actress to win for a leading role, but I think she should have mentioned McDaniel, who won Best Supporting Actress in 1939 - when Hollywood was much more racist than it is now.

[enough]

What about Tom Cruise's comments at the beginning of the show? He talked about how he and another actor were lamenting on whether or not what they do for a living is important, in the wake of 9-11.

Note to Tom and friend: NO. You are actors, for cripes sake. Entertainment is a past time. Hollywood is irrelevent. And I think they might suspect many people have figured out. Hence, the machinations of last night's over the top barf fest.

[dougherty]

Julia Roberts' "I love my life" comment while announcing Denzel Washington as the Best Actor winner was rather annoying, too.

Julia Roberts is all about me, me, me. She is self-absorbed and the whole world revolves around her. Well, in her mind it does, lol.

[TracyPA]

Halle was tough to watch with her histrionics. It's one thing to show emotion- but this went on so LONG! When Halle reached her hand toward her husband crying uncontrollably, I thought he would rush the stage and carry her off! Or maybe Russell Crowe should have given her a smack to stop the hysteria - that crowd hated him anyway LOL!

[PhilDragoo]

Did she have to kiss Billy Bob to get that Oscar?

In her appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, a clip from that film was shown. She sat on a couch with Thornton and delivered some lines in awkward fashion which was embarrassing to watch. Judging by Leno's eyeballs on Slinkytm springs bouncing on her implants, and the diarrhea of innuendo and double entendre, she did the first black blue movie with major distribution.

[Pagey]

"At first I thought she was having some kind of a seizure". That is all the leftist crowd here at my work is talking about."Oh she was so taken w/ winning" She was so natural"---And now you guys are saying she was having a seizure? LOL and confused.I didn't watch it,I can't watch them,that's how much I loathe them.Was she out of control or something?I have to know!