Halle Berry speaks out on domestic violence

Halle Berry has spoken about the impact her mother suffering domestic violence had on her.

The 43-year-old actress said much of her childhood was centred around the beatings her mom Judith Ann received. Halle believes the way she grew up affected her adult life, explaining she often chose to be with unsuitable men.

She told NBC’s Natalie Morales: “My mother was a battered woman and that was my childhood for a good chunk of it. I care, I really care about these women and children.”

Halle is now involved with Los Angeles shelter the Jenesse Center, which aims to help people who have suffered domestic violence by helping them become self sufficient. Over the last 10 years she was worked to raise money for the centre and has encouraged companies to work with them to raise awareness for the work it does. Halle also spends time with the women at the shelter to help boost their self-confidence.

In 2005, she was honoured by the centre for her humanitarian work. She said at the time: “Domestic violence is something I've known about since I was a child. My mother was a victim of it. Early on in my life I made choices, and I chose men that were abusive because that was what I knew growing up. First time it happened, I knew enough to keep moving.”

Halle has been married twice, to former baseball star David Justice and musician Eric Benet. She has said that she was so depressed when she split from David she considered killing herself. Eric was treated for sex addiction while the pair were married.

She has previously admitted a former boyfriend beat her, claiming he hit her so hard she lost 80 per cent of the hearing in one ear.

Halle is now in a long-term relationship with model Gabriel Aubry, with who she has 19–month-old daughter Nahla.