Halle Berry may have once been a self-described “dog person,” but her role in 2004’s Catwomansparked a lasting feline obsession.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, the 57-year-old Oscar winner reflected on how the film transformed her into a devoted cat lover—a shift she’s now fully leaning into after rescuing four kittens from her yard.
“I became a cat lover because of it,” Berry told EW, referencing her infamous comic-book adaptation. “I just rescued four kitties I found in my yard three weeks ago. I’m a Catwoman through and through because of that experience and those relationships. That experience changed me.”
Last month, Berry introduced two of the rescued kittens, Boots and Coco, in an Instagram post. She explained that she discovered the feline family—a mother cat and her four babies—in her yard. After spaying the mother and releasing her back outdoors, Berry found homes for two of the kittens and kept Boots and Coco for herself.
“It’s a full house over here!” she wrote. The John Wick: Chapter 3 star also owns two Labradoodles, proving her love for animals knows no bounds.
Becoming Catwoman
Berry’s connection to cats deepened during Catwoman’s production, when she was given a pet cat named Playdough to help her embody the role.
“I watched, studied, and learned how cats think,” she recalled. “I didn’t have the responsibility of children and family; I was just a woman alone with a lot of idle time to focus on this.”
Her method acting went to extremes: “I’d crawl around my house, trying to jump on my counters, thinking, ‘If I were a cat, how would I get up there?’ I was in it 24/7.”
Though Catwoman was a box-office flop and critically panned, Berry told EW she resented how the blame fell solely on her: “I hated that it got all put on me.” Still, the film left her with an enduring love for cats—one that’s now a permanent part of her life.
Catwoman is available for purchase online.
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