Halle Berry Enters ‘Second Half’ Empowered, Readies For New TV Series

Halle Berry is getting ready to take the world by storm again, this time on network television.

Berry, 47, has signed on to play the lead role of Astronaut Molly Woods in CBS’ new show Extant, the new Sci-Fi endeavor from Steven Spielberg. Berry’s portrayal of a married astronaut who returns home after a year in space from a solo mission, and is somehow pregnant. Berry says, “The minute I started to read it, I couldn’t put it down.” according to Entertainment Weekly.“I thought, ‘Wow. This is different.’ It’s innovative. Molly is a strong female character, which I really love to play. Molly is a complicated woman with a complicated family. Who is a woman who goes away to space for a year and leaves her husband, first of all? Who is a woman who comes back pregnant and tries to handle it somehow on her own? That just felt like a complication that I wanted to be a part of.”

Thus begins Berry’s next phase of her life. Berry embarks on a television career after having been for the most part successful with her movie career. Berry also begins the new phase of her career recharged, sharing executive producer credits with Spielberg on Extant. “I’m so very proud of this,” Berry said. “When I started out, I wasn’t even able to dream about the position that I’m in now. I’m going into my second half, and it’s very empowering. It’s very tangible that I have more control, and it’s really exciting.”

Executive producer Mickey Fisher, who came up with the concept and wrote the original script, said that although Extant is fueled by thriller elements, the core of the show is based on how humans connect and don’t connect: “We want to explore what it means to be human, what it means to survive.” Fellow executive producer Greg Walker added, “The show is very much rooted in family — that’s what keeps the story grounded.”

Berry said she identified with Molly and relished playing a character with flaws. “What I’ve learned from playing this role is that Molly is as complicated as I am, and that’s what I hoped she would be,” Berry said. “I’m fascinated by what drives her, what she’s made of.

Berry’s not done there, either. “My wish is that Extant becomes a big hit,” Berry said about her plans. “I have about four or five projects that I hope to produce, not appear in. I’m in a position now where I get to tell great stories. It’s my empowered second half.” Berry paused and smiled: “It’s so not over.”