Since the 1980s, Halle Berry's journey from beauty pageant contestant to model to highly acclaimed actress has been an interesting one. Gaining rapid popularity in the 90s for her iconic role in The Flintstones, she soon began taking more serious roles in smaller films, both for the big and small screens. Becoming the first Black actress to take home the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2001 for her performance in Monster's Ball — and, sadly, still the only one twenty years later — Berry has led a very successful career in the entertainment industry.
Berry's most notable performances have been in the comic book movie genre, first as Storm in the original X-Men franchise, opposite esteemed actors like Patrick Stewart and Hugh Jackman, and then as Catwoman in Catwoman. Recently, Berry has said that she would love to revisit both characters, the former of which could be possible, considering Stewart has confirmed his return as Professor X in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. As of now, Berry is currently working on two films that are set to release in 2022. While we wait, here's a look at Halle Berry's best performances, ranked.
7 Die Another Day
In the 2002 James Bond installment, Die Another Day, Halle Berry portrays NSA operative, Jinx Johnson. Gearing up with 007 himself (played by Pierce Brosnan), the duo team up to track down and kill Zao, a rogue North Korean spy. As a Bond Girl, Jinx is known for both her beauty and skills. She even gets the chance to perform a backward dive off a cliff onto a boat. Evading several near-death experiences, she never gives up on her mission. This role may just be one of Berry's most recognizable to date.
6 The Flintstones
In the 1994 live-action film, The Flintstones, Halle Berry plays Miss Sharon Stone. As the secondary antagonist, she is the secretary to Cliff Vandercave, played by Kyle MacLachlan. However, she is also a henchwoman who is helping Cliff embezzle millions while setting Fred Flintstone up to take the fall. She uses her beauty to convince Fred to sign several papers that will eventually be used as damning evidence against him. As the plot progresses, she begins to show remorse for her actions. She even helps Fred clear his name and capture Cliff. For many millennials, Miss Stone is part of a core memory from a beloved childhood film.
5 X-Men Franchise
In the 2000 science fiction film, X-Men, Halle Berry takes on the role of Ororo Munroe, more commonly known as Storm. With the extraordinary ability to control the weather, Storm is part of a team of mutant superheroes who teaches younger mutants how to control their powers at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. Her iconic white hair and glowing eyes made her a very popular character that has been portrayed by several other actresses later on in the franchise. Berry has recently expressed interest in revising the role of Storm.
4 Gothika
Taking on a completely different role in the 2003 horror film, Gothika, Halle Berry plays Dr. Miranda Grey. She is a psychiatrist at Woodward Penitentiary for Women, and her husband, Douglas, runs the facility. After seeing a horrifying vision on her alternate route home, she slips into a state of psychosis and murders her husband with an ax. Having no recollection of the event, she is put behind bars inside the very facility she worked at. Haunted by terrifying spirits, she suffers greatly until she manages to escape. She heads to her deceased husband's rural farmhouse and discovers that he and the Sheriff had been abducting and torturing women there. Once the truth is revealed, she is released and continues her life as a psychic medium. Although the film received mostly poor reviews, Roger Ebert was pleased with it. He even suggested that the famous Alfred Hitchcock would have enjoyed working with Berry.
3 Catwoman
In the 2004 live-action film, Catwoman, Halle Berry slips into her catsuit to portray Patience Philips, otherwise known as Catwoman from DC Comics. Completely separate from the Batman franchise, this version of Catwoman shows Patience as an artist working at a cosmetics company known as Hedare Beauty. When she accidentally discovers that the company's latest skincare product is rapidly aging customers, she is killed. However, things turn around for her immediately after an Egyptian Mau named Midnight brings her back to life with special abilities. While she enjoys stealing expensive jewels, her morals are usually in the right place. She eventually exposes the company and gets to live her new life freely as Catwoman. Berry gets to show off her athletic prowess in several action-packed scenes, which makes this one of her top performances. Most recently, Zoe Kravitz has assumed the role of Catwoman, and Berry thinks she is doing a great job.
2 The Call
Taking a step back from hyper-sexualized characters, Halle Berry portrays 9-1-1 call operator, Jordan Turner, in the 2013 thriller, The Call. Returning to work as a trainer after a 6-month leave, Jordan takes over an emergency call from a teenage girl who has been abducted and locked in a trunk. Since the girl is calling from a disposable phone, it cannot be traced. Guiding her to knock out a taillight and signal other drivers, Jordan attempts to locate the girl by alternate means. As the story progresses, viewers discover that the abductor is a serial killer. The stakes are raised as Jordan takes a more hands-on approach to find the girl herself. Together, they defeat the killer and leave him to die. The first screening of this film was at the Women's International Film Festival, and it remains one of Berry's best performances.
1 Monster’s Ball
Starring alongside Billy Bob Thorton and Heath Ledger in the 2001 drama, Monster's Ball, Halle Berry plays Leticia Musgrove. After the death of her son, Tyrell, she gets into a relationship with Corrections Officer Hank Grotowski, one of the men who assisted in the execution of her husband, Lawrence. She is unaware of the connection for the most part of the film. However, she eventually finds out and decides to stay with him anyway. The performance earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress, and the movie also won the category for Best Original Screenplay.