Halle Berry: 2017-08-06

Thursday, 10 August 2017

'It was rough': Halle Berry admits she once lived in a homeless shelter in New York as a struggling actress

PUBLISHED: 23:08, 9 August 2017 | UPDATED: 23:38, 9 August 2017

Halle Berry has revealed she once lived in a homeless shelter in New York when she was a struggling actress.

The star, 50, explained she found herself without a roof over her head when her mother refused to lend her money during a time of need.

Speaking in an interview with PEOPLE magazine, Halle said: 'That was rough. I called my mother and asked her to send me some money, and she said no, and that led to a year of not speaking, but that's probably one of the best things she did for me.'

Early struggles: Halle Berry, 50, revealed in an interview with People magazine that she was once homeless and giving in a shelter in New York City

She continued: 'She said, "If you want to be there, then you work it out". Giving up was never an option.

'Shelter life was part of figuring it out for a minute until I could get a waitressing job. Then I got a bartending job, and until I could figure that out, that’s what I did.'

The actress who was born in Cleveland, Ohio and raised by her mother admits that the early days were stressful, but it forced her competitive nature.

Halle also says that drive is what has helped her cope with three failed marriages.

Early days: Halle was a struggling actress in New York City at the beginning of her career (pictured in 1989)

Home truths: 'I called my mother and asked her to send me some money, and she said no, and that subsequently led to a year of not speaking to her', she explained

The actress divorced third husband, Olivier Martinez in 2016, with whom she shares a little boy named Maceo, three.

Prior to her latest relationship, she was married to David Justice from 1993 to 1997 and Eric Benet from 2001 to 2005.

She was also in a relationship with model Gabriel Aubry from 2005 to 2010 and has a little girl named Nahla, nine, with him.

Halle, who has two children, explained that she is learning slowly that she is 'fearless.

She said: 'I had so many fears as I went through my third divorce. I was afraid to do that, but I was more afraid of living unhappy. It's teaching me: Don't be afraid of what people will think about the choices you make. We have to live for ourselves.'

Pushed her to be better: The actress who was born in Cleveland, Ohio and raised by her mother admits that the early days were stressful, but it forced her competitive nature

New thriller: The A-lister has been promoting her new film Kidnap in the Big Apple, talking about the film on GMA

She revealed she is taking a break from dating and spending the time with her kids.

'I'm just with my kids and I'm really taking time to think and reflect, and trying to figure out how to make different choices and just have a minute to be with myself.'

The A-lister has been promoting her new film Kidnap in the Big Apple, talking about the film on GMA.

Halle explained that her role as Karla Dyson, a mother who will stop at nothing to find her son, was 'visceral.'

'It's every mom, every parent's worst nightmare. So it's real. It's real for all of us.'

'What would you do if you saw your child snatched before your eyes - close enough to see but too far to do anything about it? What would you really do?'