Key Points
- Berry channels personal sexism, ageism and racism experiences into her Crime 101 performance
- Her insurance-broker character, denied a promotion, teams with Hemsworth’s jewel thief for a heist
- She recounts confronting alleged Bryan Singer misconduct on X2, a claim Singer’s representative disputes
Why They're In The News
HALLE Berry is opening up about the personal experiences that helped shape her latest role in the upcoming heist film Crime 101.
The Oscar winner stars as an insurance broker who joins forces with a jewel thief, played by Chris Hemsworth, after her character is denied a promotion because she’s a woman.
Berry said the role resonated deeply because it reflects issues she has faced in Hollywood, including sexism, ageism and racism.
She explained that the part gave her a chance to channel feelings she has long carried into a performance onscreen.
“I thought, wow, I have an opportunity here to put in film something that I’m wildly passionate about personally,” she said.
As part of that reflection, Berry recalled a tense moment from the set of 2003’s X2 involving director Bryan Singer.
According to Berry, cast and crew members were upset by his behavioUr, and she decided to confront him directly.
She described the incident as one of the most memorable moments of her time on set.
Alan Cumming, her X-Men co-star, also previously referenced the alleged confrontation in his memoir. A representative for Singer denied that the incident happened.
With Crime 101, Berry appears to be turning difficult past experiences into powerful creative material, adding even more intensity to one of her most emotionally charged roles in recent years.
Why This Matters
Berry channeling sexism, ageism and racism into Crime 101 matters because it turns personal injustice into a public reckoning, amplifying industry-wide abuses while proving authentic lived experience can deepen performances and spark broader conversations about change.
