Award-winning actor Halle Berry took center stage at the DealBook Summit to deliver a pointed critique of California Governor Gavin Newsom. She didn’t shy away from making waves—calling out the governor for vetoing two consecutive years of menopause-care legislation. Berry warned that his track record shows a disregard for women, saying “he probably should not be our next president either.”
Berry described how, in 2025, women in mid-life are often treated as invisible—particularly in Hollywood, the workplace and society at large. As she approaches 60, she voiced the frustration many feel: that aging women must fight constant pressure to remain looking and acting young. She also revealed her own vulnerability with candid remarks about the “fountain of youth” expectations placed on female stars.
Her remarks about Governor Newsom came in the context of her broader mission. Berry has dedicated herself to improving menopause care through her company and said the vetoed bill would have required insurers and healthcare providers to offer specific training and treatments for menopause. The action she advocates aims to shift how the industry treats an often‐ overlooked phase of women’s health.
Whether one agrees or not with her political take, Berry’s speech serves as a reminder of how celebrity voices are being used to spotlight both health policy and gender equity. It raises the question: when high-profile people speak up, does it change the conversation — and could it shape future policy and leadership decisions?