Happy Birthday Bond Girl Halle Berry! … Day 226 of Bond 365

Halle Berry

Born this day in 1966

Jinx Johnson in Die Another Day

Halle Berry was born in Cleveland, Ohio and eventually became a model after having competed and won the Miss Teen All-American Pageant. In fact, she was the first runner up in the Miss U.S.A. Pageant in 1986 representing Ohio.

Berry got her first acting role on the television series Living Dolls (1989) as Emily Franklin. The series was a spin off of the popular sitcom Who’s the Boss? (1984 – 1992) that starred Tony Danza, Judith Light and Alyssa Milano. In 1991, Berry was cast as Vivian in Spike Lee’s Jungle Fever, acting alongside Wesley Snipes Annabella Sciorra, Ossie Davis (loved him in Bubba Ho-Tep!) Samuel L. Jackson, and legendary Anthony Quinn. Thereafter, Berry made guest appearances on television shows and was starring in films regularly.

In 2000, Berry found a home starring as Ororo Munroe / Storm in X-Men, which also starred heavy hitting actors Patrick Steward and Ian McKellen. She starred in three subsequent X-Men franchise films since 2000. Berry joined the Bond family when she donned an orange bikini and recreated Ursula Andress’ famous entrance from Dr. No (1962) forty years later in Die Another Day in which Pierce Brosnan was her James Bond.

Lately, Berry has been busy with the television series Extant (2014 – 2015). In this sci-fi drama thriller, Berry plays returning astronaut Molly Woods. She also supports the show as executive producer and co-executive producer. And, her next movie Kidnap (2016) is currently in post-production.

Peter Hunt

Passed away this day in 2002

Also, today in Bond history, director Peter Hunt passed away in 2002. Read my write up about Hunt on March 11, when I was commemorating his birthday.

Note: The photo of Peter Hunt with George Lazenby (right) was from a blog Vintage Everyday, entry titled "James Bond - Rare and Unpublished Photos from Auditions for On Her Majesty Secret Service." If you have a few minutes, please go visit the site - it's definitely worth it! 

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