Halle Berry wins Academy Award for Best Actress (2002)

Halle Berry won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Monster's Ball at the 74th ceremony on March 24, 2002.  She became the first African-American actress to win the top award.  She beat out Judi Dench and Sissy Spacek.  

Denzel Washington won Best Actor, making him the second African-American actor to win the award.

Helen Mirren wins Academy Award for Best Actress 2007

Helen Mirren, actress extraordinaire, won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in The Queen at the 79th ceremony February 25, 2007.  She had some stiff competition because Meryl Streep and Judi Dench were also nominated. 

The movie was nominated for five more awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score, and Best Costume Design.