Raised in Ohio

Named winner of the Miss Teen All-American Pageant, representing the state of Ohio

Became first runner-up in the Miss USA Pageant

Worked as a model in Chicago

Won the dress competition in the Miss World pageant

TV debut as model Emily Franklin in ABC sitcom "Living Dolls"

Feature debut as a junkie in Spike Lee's "Jungle Fever"

Played recurring role of Frank's girlfriend Debbie Porter on "Knots Landing" (CBS)

Cast as title character in the CBS miniseries "Queen" based on the book by Alex Haley

Cast as the sultry secretary who seduced Fred Flintstone in the live-action "The Flintstones"

Played a former drug addict struggling to regain custody of her son in "Losing Isaiah" co-starring Jessica Lange

Portrayed the title character in the thriller "The Rich Man's Wife"

Signed by Revlon to model cosmetics in print and TV advertising

Appeared opposite Warren Beatty in the political comedy "Bulworth"

Co-starred as one of the three wives of singer Frankie Lymon in "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?"

Realized dream project by co-producing and starring in the HBO biopic "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge"; Halle won several awards as the titular singer-actress, and the first black woman to be nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award

Featured as Storm, a mutant with the power to produce adverse weather conditions, in "X-Men"

Was the female lead in the action feature "Swordfish"

Cast as the widow of a death row inmate who falls in love with a former prison guard in Marc Forster's "Monster's Ball"; won a Best Actress Academy Award, becoming the first black woman to win in that category; also received a BAFTA nomination

Portrayed Jinx in the James Bond film "Die Another Day" opposite Pierce Brosnan as 007

Reprised role of Storm in the sequel "X2"

Starred in the horror feature "Gothika"

Starred as a feline in the poorly received "Catwoman"

Starred in an adaptation of Zora Neale Hurston's novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God" (ABC); earned Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for Best Actress

Produced the HBO original movie "Lackawanna Blues" based on Ruben Santiago-Hudson's play that centers around a boarding house in Lackawanna, New York; earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best TV Movie

Reprised the role of Storm in "X-Men: The Last Stand"

Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (April)

Co-starred with Benicio Del Toro in "Things We Lost in the Fire"