Halle Berry opens up about being “in the middle of menopause.”

In a new play she wrote for women healthpublished on Monday, the actress has been open about “embracing” the changes in her life and “owning” her sexuality, sharing that at 56 she is her “best self” despite being “in the middle of the menopause”.

This important transitional phase in a woman’s life marks a change in hormone levels, usually after the age of 40. Although every woman is affected differently, it can lead to symptoms such as hot flashes, fatigue, irritability and insomnia John Hopkins Medicine.

“The most important thing about being true to your sexuality as a woman is accepting the position you’re in — and embracing it,” Berry said. “And I’m saying that because I’m in the middle of menopause. And I’m questioning everything I thought I knew about menopause. Things like, ‘Your life is over.’ “You’re disposable.” “Society has no place for you anymore.” “You should retire.” ‘You should wrap it up.'”

“I challenge all these stereotypes of how you have to look a certain way or feel a certain way. I’m at my best now that I’m 56 years old,” she added. “I have the most to offer. I have zero.” spaces give more. I am firm in my femininity. I finally realize that what I have to say has value even if no one else agrees.”

The Oscar-winner – mother to daughter Nahla, 15, and son Maceo, 9 – also shared her thoughts on the societal pressures on women to have children.

“When you’re in your mid-thirties, don’t get bogged down by the idea that you have to have children by a certain age,” she said. “You decide.”

“And if you want to have children, you don’t have to be defined by the old ideologies that women have to do it,” Berry continued. “Only do it if you want to because you are giving up a large part of your private life to make other lives grow. And maybe you’re not a woman who wants to do that. No harm, no foul, no judgement.”

“Be clear about who you are and how you want to live your life because it’s up to you and you alone,” she added.

Meanwhile, Berry also opened up about her experience directing the 2020 film bruised has changed her approach and perspective when it comes to whether or not to take on a project.

“I will never be the person I was before I became a director,” she said. “You can’t just be the dancing bear again. That’s impossible. Since directing, I’ve done several productions.” bruised. And I realize that I always have my director’s hat on.

“You need a solid ‘why’ to ask me to do something,” she continued, adding that now she’s “challenging.”[s] “Every script” sent her the way. “I ask, ‘What is the female point of view?’ Because many of these screenplays are still written by men today. Men write roles for women. They write roles for characters they don’t understand.

The monster ball star encouraged those who many don’t understand how to understand the female POV: “Open your mind, expand your reality and hear my point of view. And take that into account.”

Read Berry’s full article, Here.