Halle Berry is one of the most famous actresses in Hollywood. She was the first African Americanactress to win an Academy Award for Best Actress. She won the Oscar for her role in Monster’s Ball in 2001. To this day, she remains the only lead black actress to win an Academy Award for a leading role. Her mother, Judith Ann Hawkins, played a huge role in that success.
Today, we will talk about the life of Judith, and how she inspired her daughter Halle Berry to be the best in the business.
Judith is a retired psychiatric nurse. She has nothing to do with movies but managed to help Halle become the first black actress to win an Oscar for a leading role.
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Quick Bio and Career
Born in Sawley Derbyshire, England in 1939, Judith Ann Hawkins is in her 80s. She was born to Earl Ellsworth Hawkins and Nellie Dicken.
Aside from her parents, there is not much information about her siblings or other family members. Her educational background is also unknown.
Her father Earl was of American descent, while her mother was English. Judith holds an American nationality and belongs to a mixed ethical background.
She worked as a hospital nurse for almost her entire career. She and Halle lived together until 1989 when Halle relocated to New York City to pursue a career in acting.
Judith was married to Jerome Jesse Berry, who is Halle’s father. Her ex-husband was also a hospital attendant. The two never disclosed any information about their relationship. Their marriage produced two daughters,Heidi Berry in 1964 and Halle Berry in 1966.
Sadly, Judith became a victim of domestic violence. Her husband, Jerome Berry, used to physically assault her, and that led to their divorce. Ann Hawkins filed for divorce in 1979, when Halle was only four years of age.
Following the divorce, she raised Halle and her sister Heidi Berry as a single mother. Her ex-husband and Halle’s father died of a brain tumor in January 2003.
Their wedding date remains a mystery. Following the divorce, Judith hasn’t been involved in any other love affair. She lives her single life happily with her two daughters.
She has retired from her work, and Judith hasn’t mentioned any information about her career. She only came to the media spotlight when Halle became famous.
Halle Berry Didn’t talk to Her mother for One Year
Now let’s talk about how Judith Ann Hawkins helped Halle Berry become the woman and successful American actress she is today.
Judith and Halle have been close for most of their life, but there was one point when they stopped talking for a full year. And it was all due to money.
Following the divorce of her parents, Halle was raised by her mom. Growing up, she received support from her mom, who encouraged Halle to always believe in herself. Even when she was young, Halle wanted to become successful.
Young Halle Berry set out to become a fashion model at 18 years of age. To do that, she moved to Chicago and pursued a modeling career. She thought living in the Windy City with other aspiring models would be great, but soon, reality kicked in.
She left the apartment full of other aspiring models and moved into another with a friend. But she quickly found herself broke and living on her own.
In an interview in 1998, Halle explained, “I got together with one of the other models, Susan. We moved out into our own one-bedroom apartment. She had the bedroom, and I slept on the couch. About a month or two after that, Susan splits, and leaves town because she’s not getting any real jobs and I am stuck with this $1200 a month rent”.
Like any other scared teenager would do, Halle called her mom to ask for help and money. Judith recalls, “So when she called and asked me for I think it was $500 to do her portfolio. I was actually at a time myself when I didn’t have that kind of money to send her.”
Her mother refused to help her. And Halle recalled, “She said no. My world came crumbling. I thought, ‘How could my mother say no?’ I’m thinking, ‘Mom, I’m trying to eat here. You do not understand the state I’m in, and she said ‘no. I didn’t speak to her for a little over a year after that. My ego kicked in. My pride kicked in and I said, ‘Fine, I’ll never ask you for another thing.'”
Teaching Halle Berry Life Lessons
While refusing her daughter might seem like a huge deal. But that was the best thing that could happen to Halle.
The Oscar-winner says that the refusal for help was the best thing. One year after falling out, Halle Berry came to a realization that helped her get back on good terms.
Berry understood why her mother didn’t just bail her out. Instead of spoiling her with comfort, Judith helped her understand how to stand on her own two feet.
She recalls, “What seemed like a really terrible thing at the moment was the best thing she could have ever done for me. I forgave her, we made up, and I vowed to never have a year away from my mother ever again over something as trivial as that.”
That life situation and tough love taught Halle to never give up. She grew as an individual. Giving up was not an option from that point on.
Halle set out to prove to her mother and everybody else she could succeed in Hollywood. Fast-forward several years later, she definitely has.
Net Worth
How much is the net worth of Judith Ann Hawkins? Well, per online sources, the average salary of a psychiatric nurse ranges from $48,000 per year to $85,000 per year.
But Judith lives a lavish and luxurious life thanks to her daughter. Halle Berry has a net worth of more than $80 million.
And unlike her mother back in the day, she is happy to share her wealth with the family. The two live together in a lavish mansion in Malibu, worth more than $5 million.
37-year-old who enjoys ferret racing, binge-watching boxed sets and praying. He is exciting and entertaining, but can also be very boring and a bit grumpy.
