Halle Berry: “We’ll Redefine What Marriage Is”

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (April 5, 2007) — Fresh off of receiving her star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame, Halle Berry sat down with Access Hollywood’s Nancy O’Dell to discuss the powerful position she’s at in her life, as well as her wishes for a family.

In her new film “Perfect Stranger,” Halle plays an embattled and “tortured” woman, who overcomes adversity by using her brains and sexuality — which is just the kind of role she likes.

“I love women that are alive and real,” she tells Access. “And I love characters that are you know, vulnerable and not afraid to be vulnerable and who are somewhat troubled, because I like to see characters overcome you know, an issue. I like it when–especially women characters–when they refuse to be victimized, but decide to get the power back and to win. That is something I really love to play.”When asked about her name coming before co-star Bruce Willis’ name in the credits of the film (a huge rarity for females in the business), Halle is modest, yet thankful for the opportunity to be considered “equal” to a big male movie star. She says, “I like to say we’re side by side. That feels more like the right thing…I feel very much like his equal and his peer and that feels good, to be equal with a man like Bruce Willis, equality feels really good.” But perhaps “equality” is an understatement, as Halle was recently named “The Most Powerful African-American Woman in Hollywood” by Ebony magazine. Yet even with that title bestowed upon her, she’s characteristically modest. “That’s a nice feeling,” she says. “Just to feel like within the black community I’ve been able to make a contribution on any level feels pretty important.” Halle’s power stems not only from her talent, but also from her passion, drive, and focus on what matters in her personal life. After making it through two very public divorces, she’s found a new partner in Canadian model Gabriel Aubry, and while she has no intention of getting married again, she says “I have a wonderful guy in my life, and we’ll redefine what marriage is.” Part of that definition surely includes having children, which Halle has made no secret about wanting. She speaks of taking that next step: “Not that there’s not more to accomplish, but I think I arrived at a point in life that I realized I needed more to get me up in the morning. More than going to a new movie set. Or as much fun as getting the star was yesterday, I need something even more profound than that and that’s family. And that’s children. I need that like the air to breathe these days and I’m ready. I’m at a point where I’m really, really ready.” Halle sums up what has gotten her to the point where she can achieve that dream of family, and she’s found it lies within: “I think I’m different. I’m finally different. I finally realize that real happiness starts with me. And I think I’ve spent a lot of years looking for it externally. Looking for somebody to bring it to me. Or believing that happiness lied with someone else, you know? But it really is about me being happy with me. And when I got happy with myself all by myself, then the right thing came. I think that’s how it worked.”