Halle Berry delivered a powerful, unfiltered message at The New York Times Dealbook Summit Wednesday, calling out systemic failures in women’s healthcare and the relentless devaluation of aging women in America.
The Oscar-winning actress and founder of menopause care company Respin didn’t hold back, directly criticizing California Governor Gavin Newsom for twice vetoing menopause legislation she championed.
Her comments drew audible gasps from the audience of influential leaders gathered in New York.
Berry’s speech mixed raw personal history with sharp observations about how society treats women navigating midlife, making a compelling case for why menopause care deserves urgent attention.
Taking Direct Aim at Political Leadership
Berry opened her remarks by stating she has “zero fucks left to give” at this stage of her life, setting the tone for what would become one of the summit’s most memorable speeches.
After explaining her extensive lobbying efforts in Washington and across multiple states for menopause legislation supporting research and education, Berry turned her attention to her home state’s governor.
Back in my great state of California, my very own governor, Gavin Newsom, has vetoed our menopause bill, not one, but two years in a row. But that’s okay, because he’s not going to be governor forever, and the way he has overlooked women, half the population, by devaluing us, he probably should not be our next president either. Just saying.
The timing proved particularly noteworthy, as Newsom was scheduled to appear at the same summit later that day.
The Invisible Woman: Hollywood and Beyond
At 59, Berry spoke candidly about experiencing firsthand what millions of women face as they age in American culture.
In 2025 there is a lot to still be talked about and discovered and uncovered, especially if you are a woman who is navigating midlife and thoughtfully considering your longevity, because in 2025 I, Halle Berry, and women of my age are simply devalued in this country.
Berry described how women become increasingly invisible in Hollywood, workplaces, and social media once they pass a certain age threshold.
Society pressures women to remain “forever 35,” she explained, with compliments centered around looking younger than one’s years rather than celebrating wisdom, experience, or actual accomplishments.
The Gold Standard Nobody Can Actually Achieve
Our culture thinks that at 59 years old, I am past my prime, and that women my age start to become invisible in Hollywood, in the workplace, on social media. Women are pressured to stay forever 35. We’re complimented if we seem to be aging backwards or defying gravity, as if that’s even possible.
Berry acknowledged the extreme measures women feel compelled to take, contorting bodies and faces in pursuit of an elusive fountain of youth.
Even she, an internationally recognized beauty icon, admits feeling this pressure daily.
And sadly, I have to admit, I too, feel this pressure every single day. I feel that pressure to change myself in order to stay seen relevant and desirable.
Building Solutions for Future Generations
Berry’s work with Respin stems from personal experience navigating menopause without adequate support or resources.
As a founder, I’m building for myself what I wish I had 10 years ago with the knowing that it’s going to help generations and generations to come.
Her company aims to fill critical gaps in menopause care, addressing a healthcare area that has been historically underfunded and under-researched.
Despite affecting roughly half the population, menopause remains poorly understood by many healthcare providers, leaving women to suffer through symptoms without proper guidance or treatment options.
A Defining Childhood Moment That Changed Everything
Berry traced her advocacy work back to a traumatic childhood incident in Cleveland, Ohio, that shaped her entire approach to standing up for herself.
She recalled being told by other kids that they would beat her up when she got off the bus. They followed through on that threat.
As they walked off laughing, I was left to pick myself up shirtless out of the gutter. And I did that, but I was humiliated, because I had allowed myself to be treated this way. I made the choice to accept it.
Berry didn’t report what happened. At the time, she believed she deserved it and had no choice but to accept such treatment.
The Walk Home That Changed Her Life
During her walk home after that assault, something fundamental shifted in young Halle Berry.
But as I was walking home, I said, no. I’m never going to allow this to happen to me again. I’m never not going to stand up for myself. I’ll never allow myself to be a victim like that, and since I was in the sixth grade, I have never allowed myself to be misused or abused or mistreated in any way.
That sixth-grade promise to herself became the foundation for decades of advocacy work, from speaking out in Hollywood to lobbying for legislative change in women’s healthcare.
Why Menopause Legislation Matters
Berry’s frustration with Governor Newsom’s repeated vetoes highlights a larger systemic problem in how women’s healthcare gets prioritized—or more accurately, deprioritized—at the policy level.
Menopause affects approximately 1.3 million women annually in the United States alone as they transition into this life stage.
Symptoms can include:
- Hot flashes and night sweats that disrupt sleep and daily activities
- Mood changes including anxiety and depression
- Cognitive changes affecting memory and concentration
- Physical changes including bone density loss and cardiovascular risks
- Sexual health issues that impact quality of life
Despite these widespread impacts, medical education about menopause remains limited, leaving many healthcare providers ill-equipped to properly treat patients.
The Broader Message: Women Taking Control
Berry’s speech wasn’t just about menopause legislation or ageism in Hollywood. She issued a broader call for women to reclaim control over their health and how they’re treated in society.
Her willingness to speak bluntly about powerful political figures demonstrates the kind of advocacy she believes necessary to create actual change.
By connecting her personal experiences with systemic issues affecting millions, Berry made menopause—often treated as a taboo topic—impossible for summit attendees to ignore.
Her message resonates beyond healthcare policy, touching on fundamental questions about how society values women throughout their entire lifespan, not just during youth.
Berry’s speech serves as both a personal testimony and a rallying cry, reminding women that accepting mistreatment or invisibility should never be the default option.