Fast Facts About Halle Berry's Life

Actor Halle Berry had a rough start to life. Raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Berry was the product of a biracial couple, witnessed addiction at an early age, and became a child of divorce. Her parents split when Berry was four. Berry revealed in an Instagram post that her father battled with alcohol addiction. Because of his struggles, the two were never able to have the bond they should have, nor were her mom and dad able to stay together and create a happy home environment. 

Following her father's absence, she and her sister were raised by her mother, a psychiatric nurse. Growing up a Black child of a single white parent in the 60s and 70s posed its fair share of issues and struggles with a young Berry. In an AARP interview, she discussed how after her father left, members of the African American side of her family wanted nothing or little to do with her. Berry watched her mother fight through anything and everything that came her way and attributes her own perseverance to the qualities she witnessed in her mom's experiences.

During Berry's teen years, which were spent in a predominantly Caucasian educational setting, Berry strived for perfection in everything she did. Per Hello, Halle said, "It was sickening how much I craved being liked. I was Miss Everything – cheerleader, student senator, on the newspaper, the honor roll, you name it." This drive for approval, however, eventually led to doors opening beyond the classroom.

If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Is Halle Berry's striking beauty due to good genetics, a fountain of youth tucked away in the backyard, or her penchant for healthy living? Looking at her lifestyle, we are going with Berry's healthy routines being the culprit behind her gorgeous face and frame.

Berry, like several other actors, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Since her diagnosis at age 19, she has lived the Keto life. Per Women's Health, Berry is a big believer in a low-carb, meat-based diet. She tends to skip breakfast and load up on Bulletproof coffee, almond milk, ghee, protein powder, and collagen before her daily workout, then fueling up with an early lunch. Berry's trainer shared with Hollywood Life that midday meals often consist of steak or chicken and dark leafy greens, and whole eggs. Snacks often include avocado, fruits and veggies, and bone broth. Dinner is likely a ketogenic stew or chili or lamb chops. 

Nourishing her body is critical, but so is keeping it moving. Berry told Women's Health that her exercise routines vary. She listens to her body, focusing on areas needing the greatest attention. Daily workouts (Berry gets moving six days each week) are driven by her desire to live a long and healthy life. "I always remind myself why I'm doing it. Since I had [kids] a little later in life, I want to be here for them. I want to live as long as I can and see my grandbabies."

Halle Berry is one of several famous entertainers who don't have their full range of hearing. She wasn't born with her disability, nor is it because of her Diabetes (per the CDC, hearing loss is twice as common in people with Type 1 Diabetes compared to their non-diabetic peers of the same age.) Berry lost her hearing because of physical abuse. She explained her sad situation at The Mayor's Fund Benefit in New York City in 2011 (via Respeciability.org). "It was only when I was in an abusive relationship and blood squirted on the ceiling of my apartment, and I lost 80 percent of my hearing in my ear that I realized I have to break the cycle." The cycle Berry was referring to was in reference to watching her mother be physically abused by her father.

Berry's experiences with abuse led to her involvement with the Jenesse Center, a domestic violence prevention and intervention organization. In 2015, almost 20 years post-hearing loss abuse, she revealed at a VIP cocktail benefit party for the organization (via People), that while it seems like Berry has moved past her dark days of abuse, she hasn't. She explained that she continued to struggle, and helping other women in similar situations not only aids them but helps heal her.

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.

Some famous former couples make co-parenting look like a piece of cake; others find it far more challenging. Halle Berry shares her daughter Nahla and son Maceo with two different fathers, former model Gabriel Aubry and actor Oliver Martinez, and navigating the myriad of complex relationships can be complicated and somewhat stressful for the famous mother. 

Berry shared with Women's Health that she occasionally speaks to a therapist to help her manage her feelings of guilt that surround motherhood, failed relationships, co-parenting, child support, and all that comes with this territory. "I have two different daddies, and I see [my kids] half the time. That's a lot to manage. So, I have to go sometimes to talk to people to help me figure out, 'How do I make the best decisions for my children? How do I help them deal with this life that we — my dads and I — have given them?' I feel guilty a lot. You think, 'God, I should've done better.' But at the same time, I'm reminded that we always have to take care of ourselves first because I can't be a good mother for my children if I'm not fundamentally happy and feeling good about myself."

So her journey with motherhood and co-parenting isn't picture-perfect, nor is it seamless, but Berry is raw, honest, and ready to work on herself to make the lives of her loved ones the very best they can be while seeking out her own joy.

Celebrities and fur babies go together like peanut butter and jelly. Many famous entertainers leave their long hours in front of the cameras behind for the comfort and cuddles of their four-legged friends. Halle Berry is an adamant animal lover who doesn't discriminate between purring pals and cute canines. While some people are strict dog people and others are cat caretakers only, Berry adores both her pups and kitties. 

One stroll through Berry's Instagram will tell you she can not get enough of her darling Labradoodles, Jackson and Roman. Berry doesn't adore only her dogs; she loves all dogs, and took a liking to the pups on the set of "John Wick 3." Berry bonded with the five pups used to play the main canine character and even had a hand in their training. Berry claimed to learn so much from that experience that she was able to take some of it home and use it on her own furry friends. Berry told television host Jimmy Fallon (via People), that she was able to teach her pups to "talk." The interview was followed up by a clip of her dog seemingly admitting to being in the "doghouse" for eating her children's hamburgers. 

Aside from her dogs, Berry is also a proud cat owner. She has a cat named Spanky and gave an emotional Instagram tribute to her deceased kitty, Playdough, who died of brain cancer at age 16.

You gotta love a woman who isn't afraid to make herself happy. Halle Berry has a few fun indulgences, and she isn't afraid to share her love of them with the world. The starlet was asked by Allure Magazine to choose this or that, and when asked if she'd rather diet or indulge, she said, "Indulge. You can only keep up a diet for so long." It's true, and while Berry is a big believer in Keto living to help manage her diabetes, that doesn't mean she doesn't have a little fun every now and then. 

She told The Strategist that Bev Rose is a go-to cocktail for her. "I think wine in a can is the future. No matter where I'm going, I can still have a glass of wine. And it tastes good — canned drinks have really come a long way. I love Bev because it's sugar-free. I can drink it and not worry about my blood sugar levels because I am a diabetic." Her non-food indulgences include a serious shoe addiction, admitting to having hundreds of pairs and needing to display them outside of their boxes, so she doesn't lose track of what she has, cardio workouts, comedy flicks, and lush products like NatureLab Tokyo Perfect Shine Oil Mist and Esker Beauty Clarifying Body Wash.

Considering the many movies Halle Berry has been a part of over the entirety of her lengthy career, it is fair to say she has worked with a lot of actors. It might be more of a challenge to find stars she hasn't collaborated with as opposed to naming the celebrities she has. While she has teamed up with the likes of Keanu Reeves, Billy Bob Thornton, Eddie Murphy, John Travolta, and Robert Downey Jr, she has shared the screen with one famous actor more than once. 

She and Hugh Jackman have worked on six film projects over the years. They teamed up to create major motion pictures like "X-Men," "Swordfish," "X-Men 2," "X-Men: The Last Stand," "Movie 43," and "X-Men: Days of Future Past." The two are fans of each other's work — but also of each other. Jackman once took to Twitter to write, "Halle Berry. Halle Berry. Halle Berry. That's all I wanted to say! Halle Berry." While the actors' "X-Men" characters seemingly had a love affair, Jackman and Berry are strictly platonic working partners — no funny business here. 

From growing up in an abusive home to hunkering down in a New York City homeless shelter, Halle Berry has certainly known hard times. However, at this stage in her life, those days of struggle seem long gone. Today, the wildly successful, stunningly beautiful middle-aged actor is living the good life, surrounded by love, family, friends, and a lo of cash. Thanks to her stellar acting abilities, countless major motion pictures, and a long-standing endorsement deal with beauty bigwig Revlon, Berry is now worth a staggering $90 million. 

Per Hello Magazine, Berry took all that dough and purchased her dreamy $8.5 million Malibu mansion as well as a $6 million pad in the Hollywood Hills. She makes big money, spends big money — but also gives away big money. She and fashion mogul Michael Kors teamed up to create Watch Hunger Stop, where for every watch sold, 100 meals were given to those in need. She has also lent her name and efforts to organizations revolving around domestic abuse and diabetes. She is heavily involved in work done at the Jenesse Center, remodeling its housing shelters, and became the first ambassador for the National Diabetes Education Program in 2004.

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.