People USA — August 21, 2017

A p g y y
ended up in an N.Y.C. homeless shelter.
That was rough. 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, but that’s
probably one of the best things she did for me.
She said, “If you want to be there, then you wo
it out.” Giving up was never an option. It took m
right back to my high school years: “You say
I can’t—watch me. I’m going to figure this out.”
Are you dating these days? Are you in love?
No. I’m kind of taking a little break. I have be n
divorced [from Martinez] for one year but
separated for two. So it’s been two years on my
own, and I’ve been enjoying that, just with my
kids. I’m taking time to think and reflect and
try to figure out how to make different choices,

a have a minute to be with myself.

W e you learning?

can be alone. I’m learning that I’m fearless.

ad many fears as I went through my third

di I was afraid to do that, but I was more

ving unhappy. It’s teaching me: Don’t be

bout what people will think about the

choices you make. We have to live for ourselves.•

Her Rise to the Top

1.As a biracial student at an all-white

school in Bedford, Ohio, Berry

(in 1983) says she “got bullied”—but

“I’ve always been proud of both sides

of my [heritage].”2.As a cheerleader

in 1980.3.While Berry (withMonster’s

Ballcostar Billy Bob Thornton) says she

“took a risk” by doing the gritty drama,

it paid off, earning her the Best Actress

Oscar in 2002.4.Berry (onstage at the

Oscars) remains the only African-American

actress ever to win in that category.5.Berry

(with Hugh Jackman) played superhero

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