Halle Berry Champions Women's Empowerment Against Ageism in Hollywood
Academy Award-winning actress Halle Berry has delivered a powerful message urging women to reclaim the narrative that they are done at 50, 60, or 70, as she speaks candidly about ageing in the entertainment industry. The 59-year-old star, who will turn 60 in August, shared her insights while discussing her role as Sharon Coombs in the upcoming film Crime 101.
Rejecting Marginalisation and Embracing a Second Act
In an interview with Variety, Berry expressed her awareness of how women often feel marginalised as they approach milestone ages. I know how marginalised women feel when they get around those numbers, she stated, emphasising that this is a message for anyone willing to listen. As women, we have to reclaim that narrative. We're not done at 50, 60, even 70, Berry declared, adding that women have so much more to offer. She personally feels like she is just beginning her second groove, asserting, I'm 60 this year and I feel like I'm just getting my second groove started so, not done.
Berry has been vocal about refusing to be erased by societal expectations. In a conversation with The Cut, she revealed, You get to this age where you feel like you're being marginalized, devalued. You feel it at work. You feel it from society. However, she has made a firm decision: I am not going to allow myself to be erased. That's why I'm on my menopause mission. I'm going to be louder than I have ever been.
Menopause Mission and Health Advocacy
In 2020, Berry launched Raspin, a menopause and women's health care platform aimed at redefining conversations around menopause and perimenopause. The platform has since been rebranded to focus more directly on women's health and longevity. During her interview, Berry highlighted her commitment to tackling stigmas, such as vaginal dryness, which affects over 60% of women as they age. Look, it happens to more than 60 percent of women as we get older. Everything gets dry! If we talk about it and laugh about it, there's no more shame or embarrassment, she explained.
Berry's advocacy stems from personal experience. She discovered she was menopausal in what she described as a most horrific way, being misdiagnosed with herpes instead of recognising menopausal symptoms. This awakening led her to realise the lack of information available to women. If I had this little information, I wonder what millions of other women don't have, she reflected, emphasising that only women can destigmatise menopause by openly discussing it with partners, family, and colleagues.
Her efforts extend to public advocacy, including a speech at Capitol Hill in May, where she called for legislation to fund better research and education on menopause. Fighting for women's health feels like a formidable cause for my second act, Berry affirmed.
Public Reactions and Personal Revelations
Berry's outspokenness has resonated widely. On her 59th birthday, she posted a bikini photo from Bora Bora, sparking admiration on social media. One user commented, The older the Berry [the] sweeter the juice, while another asked, Where can I sell my soul to look like this at 59? A tweet humorously noted, We're not old, we're just poor.
In a memorable moment on CBS Morning, Berry left host Gayle King speechless by proudly declaring her vagina is juicy like a peach, challenging stereotypes about menopause. She cheekily quipped, It did mean that for a minute. Now I'm juicy like the peach! This candid discussion underscores her mission to normalise conversations around women's health.
Berry has also shared personal details, such as revealing she was celibate for four years before meeting her partner Van Hunt, further highlighting her openness in discussing life stages and relationships.
Through her advocacy, Berry continues to inspire women to embrace ageing with confidence and to challenge societal norms that diminish their value with age.
