‘We have to reclaim the narrative that we’re done at 50, 60, or 70’: Halle Berry, 59, reflects on age-shaming in Hollywood after vowing ‘I am not going to allow myself to be erased’

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Halle Berry believes women need to challenge the idea that their careers are over at ages 50, 60, or 70, especially within the Hollywood film industry. She recently discussed the challenges of aging as a woman in the entertainment business.

Oh my gosh, you guys, she talked about getting older! My queen, at 59, actually addressed it! It was while she was talking about her new role as Sharon Coombs in Crime 101, which, let’s be real, is already going to be amazing just because she’s in it. But hearing her thoughts on aging? I’m living for it!

Halle Berry recently told Variety that she’s excited to be starting a new chapter in her life as she approaches her 60th birthday in August, feeling like she’s just getting started.

She said: ‘I know how marginalised women feel when they get around those numbers. 

This is for anyone who’s willing to listen and understand. As women, we need to take control of how our stories are told. Our lives don’t end at 50, 60, or even 70 – we’re still vibrant and have much to offer.

I’m really hitting my stride now. I’m turning sixty this year, and it feels like a fresh chapter is just beginning – I’m definitely not slowing down!

The Academy Award-winning actress recently stated she won’t let age diminish her presence or importance.

She explained to The Cut that as you get older, you can start to feel overlooked and unimportant – both at work and in general society.

Honestly, they think they can just… ignore me? Like I’ll just fade away? Absolutely not! I’ve made up my mind – I refuse to be forgotten. That’s why I’m throwing myself into everything, really making a statement. I’m going to be more visible, more vocal, more me than ever before. They’ll definitely hear my voice now!

In 2020, Halle created Raspin, a platform dedicated to menopause and women’s health. Raspin’s goal is to change how we talk about menopause and perimenopause.

She has since rebranded it to more directly target women’s health and longevity. 

During her interview, the Oscar-winner said she wants to tackle the stigma of vaginal dryness. 

She explained that dryness is very common for women as they age – it affects over 60 percent of us! She believes openly discussing it and finding humor in the situation can help remove any feelings of shame or embarrassment.

‘I’m almost 60. Fighting for women’s health feels like a formidable cause for my second act.’

Halle Berry turned heads when she shared a bikini photo from her recent Bora Bora vacation, celebrating her 59th birthday in style.

The celebrity showed off her toned physique in a shimmering gold bikini from Monday Swimwear, posing on a comfortable platform over the water.

Halle finished her South Pacific look with a black and white checkered headscarf, dark sunglasses, and lots of jewelry.

I was keeping an eye on X, and the response was immediate! One user, @Nephil_Him, summed it up perfectly with a really lovely sentiment: ‘The older the Berry, the sweeter the juice.’ It just goes to show, sometimes experience really does make things better!

I keep seeing this amazing tweet from @current_tweet that really hits home. Someone asked, ‘Where can I sell my soul to look like this at 59?’ and the reply was just perfect: ‘We’re not old, we’re just poor!’ It’s funny, but also a little too real, isn’t it? It feels like looking good often comes down to having the resources to do so, not necessarily age itself.

During an interview on CBS Morning last year, Halle Berry surprised Gayle King and others by playfully describing her intimate area as being ‘juicy like a peach’.

The actress revealed this during a conversation with Gayle, who commented that many people associate menopause only with vaginal dryness and the end of a woman’s reproductive years.

Halle then cheekily quipped: ‘It did mean that for a minute. Now I’m juicy like the peach!’

Menopause happens when a woman stops having menstrual periods, usually because her hormone levels decrease. While it most often occurs between ages 45 and 55, it can sometimes happen sooner.

I was so moved by Halle’s honesty when she talked about going through menopause. She described finding out in a really awful and unexpected way – it sounded incredibly difficult, and I really felt for her sharing something so personal.

She discovered she had herpes, not a symptom of menopause, which made her realize how little information many women have about their health. She wondered what else millions of women might be unaware of.

It quickly became clear that we, as women, are the key to breaking down the shame around this issue. We can do that by openly discussing it – with our spouses, partners, children, and colleagues – and making it a normal conversation.

Halle has openly shared her experiences and, in May, spoke to lawmakers on Capitol Hill, urging them to support funding for more research and education on the topic.

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2026-02-11 13:49