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Actress Halle Berry carried the Olympic flame in France, marking a significant moment ahead of the Paris 2024 Games.
The 57-year-old star displayed the torch down the iconic Croisette in Cannes on June 18.
The French boulevard is currently bustling with the Cannes Lions festival – which was temporarily shut down for Berry’s walk – adding to the excitement of the ceremonial moment.
Berry made her way through the streets from 11 am to 1 pm local time and then handed the flame off to Thierry Fremaux, the director of the Lumière Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival.
Berry’s involvement in the torch relay places her among a distinguished group of past torchbearers, which includes famous figures such as Muhammad Ali, David Beckham, and Naomi Osaka.
Each torchbearer is chosen not only for their renown but for embodying the Olympic spirit and contributing to their communities.
Berry has long been an advocate and humanitarian, as well as an actress (Picture: Getty Images)
Berry’s participation in the torch relay adds another milestone to her impressive career. She rose to fame with roles in films like X-Men, Die Another Day, and Gothika, cementing herself as a Hollywood A-lister from a young age.
Berry’s accomplishment that perhaps best embodies the Olympic spirit of breaking barriers came when she made history as the first Black woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Monster’s Ball.
Beyond her acting achievements, Berry is known for her advocacy and humanitarian work, particularly in raising awareness for health issues.
Berry was the first Black woman in history to win an Oscar for Best Actress (Picture: Getty Images)
Recently, Berry has been vocal about menopause awareness. In a powerful statement made at a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on June 13, 2024, she emphasized the need to destigmatize menopause.
Joined by bipartisan senators, Berry pushed for legislation to allocate $275million (£216.4m) towards research and education on menopause.
‘The shame has to be taken out of menopause,’ said at the event. ‘We have to talk about this very normal part of our life that happens. Our doctors can’t even say the word to us, let alone walk us through the journey.’
Berry recently spoke at the White House about increasing research into menopause (Picture: AP)
During the press conference, she shared her personal experiences, highlighting the lack of preparation and knowledge provided by many women’s doctors.
She shared that her own experience facing ignorance in the medical community motivated her to use her platform to advocate for change, aiming to make a difference for other women undergoing the same transition.
In a conversation with First Lady Jill Biden at the Day of Unreasonable Conversation summit in Los Angeles in March, Berry reiterated the importance of awareness. She recounted her struggles with the hormonal shift and the urgent need for better education and support for women.
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