Just as ordinary people do, celebrities also goof up from time to time, and Halle Berry is no exception. She recently shared an account of a classical ‘mom error’ made in the heartland of Hollywood. She took her daughter, Nahla, to the premiere of her latest horror offering, ‘Never Let Go.’ The experience was not a rosy one for the adolescent, who ended up in tears instead of beaming with pride.
‘I had my daughter accompany me to the premiere, wrongly presuming she could handle it,’ Berry confessed to E! News. ‘It was indeed one of those misguided judgements as a mother, she left weeping.’ She continued, recalling her daughter’s reaction, ‘Why would you assume I’d be comfortable watching you in such a situation, Mom?’ Now that she’s sixteen, I had assumed she could handle it, but I clearly made a blunder as a mom.’
In the eerie movie ‘Never Let Go’, Berry embodies the role of a mother whose twin sons have been tormented by a malevolent entity for years. The safety of the boys is compromised when one begins to question the existence of the evil, driving Berry’s character into desperation to safeguard her family.
Nahla, who is Berry’s daughter with former partner Gabriel Aubry, did not particularly enjoy ‘Never Let Go.’ However, some other movies featuring her mother have been a hit with Berry’s kids. ‘They’re fans of Catwoman. My son also enjoys Race the Sun,’ Berry disclosed, talking about her ten-year-old son Maceo, who she shares with ex-spouse Olivier Martinez.
‘They haven’t really watched several of my movies,’ she acknowledged. Beyond the screen, Berry emulates the vigor of a devoted mother. Quite recently, she shared the definition of ‘momma’ on her Instagram: defined as a fierce defender who loves without restriction and holds the key to treasured memories, a soul who would fearlessly give her all for her kids
In her caption, she wrote, ‘How far would you go to defend your children?’ Unquestionably, as a mother, Berry matches the fierceness she so frequently portrays on-screen. Just this week, she confidently defined herself as a ‘momma’ – an unfailingly loving protector, the creator, and keeper of cherished memories, and a woman who would go to any lengths for her offspring.
Going further than just being a resilient mother, Berry also identified herself as a formidable woman overall. In a recent discussion with Marie Claire, she spoke about typically being one of the most aged individuals in a room, and how gratifying that was for her. She said, ‘the pressure to always be the life of the party isn’t on me.
‘I no longer need to concern myself with putting everyone present at ease, or worry about their egos, insecurities, or whatever they are expecting from me if it’s not what I willingly want to give in return,’ she stated. Her daughter once described her mother’s forthright nature, ‘Don’t ask mom because she’s not one to sugarcoat. If the answer isn’t something you’d like, it’s better not to ask.’
In the journey of everyday life, even Hollywood stars sometimes trip over their roles as parents. Berry’s adolescence-induced miscalculations are indeed a thing that many parents can relate to. We could take a page from Berry’s book of parenting, acknowledging our missteps, acknowledging their learning opportunities, and striving to be the best parents we can be.
Being a mother is clearly more than just a role for Berry, it’s a intrinsic part of who she is, both off-screen and on. By sharing her tribute to motherhood, she hopes to inspire others that parenting, while challenging, is inherently about unconditional love and the lengths one would go to protect their children.
Underlining her role beyond motherhood, Berry emphasizes the power she holds as a woman, especially in age-old, challenging environments. Not being confined by social expectations indeed breaks the mold and sets a path for personal fulfillment and imparts an empowering message to other women too.
Berry’s candidness around these aspects of her life paints a more relatable picture of a celebrity who is not only strong and assertive but also human, just like us. She sends a strong message that it’s okay not to be perfect, as everyone makes mistakes, and what matters is how we learn from them and grow stronger.
Her daughter’s own description of her reveals a straightforward and tenacious woman, who is unafraid to speak her mind. It is this honesty, in combination with her admirable roles in motherhood and womanhood, that makes Berry nothing short of an excellent role model.