Halle Berry Says Confronting X-Men Director Bryan Singer Was One of Her Best Days on Set: “He Deserved It”

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Halle Berry says her new movie role hits close to home. In the upcoming thriller, Crime 101, she plays Sharon, an insurance employee who feels overlooked and undervalued at work due to her age and gender.

The movie features Halle Berry, along with Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo. Her character, Sharon, becomes increasingly upset after being denied a promotion, and she takes a big gamble that dramatically changes her life. Berry connected with the role instantly, finding the character’s challenges relatable and authentic.

Halle Berry told Entertainment Weekly that she was drawn to the role because it resonated with her own life in Hollywood. She explained that she saw a chance to bring a deeply personal issue to the screen, saying, ‘It was so me.’

The strong connection to the role also presented challenges. Berry explained it was difficult to distinguish herself from the character, wondering how to portray someone else instead of simply expressing her own views. She ultimately decided to lean into the similarities between herself and the character, feeling it was important for her own voice – and the character’s – to be heard by women right now.

A particularly strong moment in the movie features Sharon confronting her boss about his sexism and advising a colleague to beware his behavior. When asked if she’d ever experienced a similar situation herself, Halle Berry immediately responded, “Oh, yes,” and then shared a story from her time working on the X-Men films.

Halle Berry shared that she once confronted director Bryan Singer while filming. The cast was frustrated with his behavior and encouraged her to address it. She explained that everyone was upset, but they believed she was the right person to speak up, saying, ‘Halle, you go tell ’em.’ Berry described it as a satisfying moment, finally telling someone who was mistreating the entire crew exactly what she thought.

During the interview, Berry’s co-star, Mark Ruffalo, laughed and said it was a good story. Berry then stated directly, “I’m sorry, but that person had it coming.”

I remember reading about this in Alan Cumming’s memoir – he talked about a really tense atmosphere on set. Afterwards, a spokesperson for Bryan Singer told The Hollywood Reporter that those claims weren’t true, but Cumming’s account definitely stuck with me.

Berry believes characters like Sharon are particularly relevant today. She’s hoping the film Crime 101 will resonate with women who’ve felt ignored or underestimated. Playing the role allowed her to bring her own strength and passion to the screen, which she felt was incredibly important.

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2026-02-14 00:21