Halle Berry & Michelle Yeoh Still the Only WOC to Win Best Actress Oscar

In 2002, Halle Berry made history as the first Black woman to win the Best Actress Oscar for her role in Monster’s Ball. It was a groundbreaking moment, not only for Berry but for the entire film industry, as it opened up long-overdue conversations about race and representation at the Academy Awards. Yet, more than 20 years later, Berry remains the only Black woman to win Best Actress at the Oscars, a fact she finds deeply troubling.

The Halle Berry Oscars Legacy: “Saddened” by Lack of Progress

Despite the prestige and global recognition of the Academy Awards, it has long faced criticism for its failure to recognize the contributions of Black talent, particularly Black women.
Halle Berry has openly addressed the racial inequities within the Oscars during a recent interview with Marie Claire:

“I’m continually saddened by that year after year. And it’s certainly not because there has been nobody deserving,”

Indeed, performances like Andra Day’s portrayal of Billie Holiday in The United States vs. Billie Holiday and Viola Davis’s powerful lead role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom are just two examples of recent snubs that have fueled ongoing accusations of systemic racism at the Academy.

The Real Problem Isn’t the Awards: It’s the Industry’s Inequities

The lack of diversity at the Oscars is a reflection of Hollywood’s deeper systemic issues. In the 95-year history of the Academy Awards, only two women of color have won the Best Actress Oscar: Halle Berry (2002, Monster’s Ball) and Michelle Yeoh (2023, Everything Everywhere All at Once). Out of nearly a century of awards, this small number highlights how underrepresented women of color (WOC) remain in leading roles. Seven Black women have won the Oscar in the Best Supporting Actress category, including Hattie McDaniel (1940, Gone with the Wind) and Regina King (2019, If Beale Street Could Talk). Three Latina women, such as Rita Moreno (1962, West Side Story), have also earned the award. These achievements highlight progress while underscoring the continued underrepresentation of women of color in these prestigious categories.

This isn’t an issue of the Academy cheating minorities out of awards; the real problem is that the film industry doesn’t provide the opportunities for minorities to even compete on an equal playing field. Currently, ethnic minorities make up around 40% of America’s population, yet they are drastically underrepresented in key areas of the film industry. Film leads, directors, and writers from minority groups are outnumbered two to one or even three to one by their white counterparts. This disparity isn’t just accidental—it’s the result of systemic bias.

“I can’t mount a film of this budget, where I have to rely on tax rebates in Spain, and say that my lead actor is Mohammad so-and-so from such-and-such.” – Ridley Scott defenidng his casting of white actors in Exodus: Gods and Kings.

Lack of Diversity Behind the Camera

While diversity has become a crucial talking point for major studios, the uneven distribution of power behind the scenes reveals how limited that progress truly is. The true influence in the creative and decision-making process remains concentrated in a very specific demographic.

Though representation is improving on-screen, the film industry behind the camera remains largely homogeneous. In 2023 study, women made up just 26 percent of producers, 17 percent of writers, and only 16 percent of directors working on the top 250 grossing films. These figures represent a slight decline or stagnation compared to previous years, showing that while diversity is often touted as a priority, true equity in key creative roles remains elusive. The study notably did not break down statistics by race and ethnicity, further highlighting the significant underrepresentation of women of color, who face even greater barriers to entry and advancement in behind-the-scenes roles within the film industry.

The Oscars Aren’t the Root Problem, Hollywood Is

Despite all of this, it’s the Oscars that frequently take the blame for the lack of diversity in the film industry. Although they undoubtedly influence industry trends, the reality is that the Academy reflects the broader systemic problems of Hollywood. Studio executives, much like Academy voters, are overwhelmingly white—94%, in fact. However, these executives are not necessarily indulging personal tastes; they are chasing profits. If they believed that minority stories, actors, and directors could generate significant returns, they would likely invest in these projects. Instead, they view whiteness as an economic necessity, maintaining the status quo.

Ultimately, while the Oscars remain in the crosshairs, the real issue lies with the industry itself. The film industry needs to provide more opportunities for minorities to take on lead roles, direct major films, and tell their own stories. Only then will the Oscars and other awards shows truly reflect a diverse and inclusive film industry.