Rags To Riches: Celebs Who Turned Their Pain Into Their Passion

5. Halle Berry

Halley Berry, 44, finally opened up to CNN about her childhood growing up with a violent, abusive father, who used to beat her mother. “I think I’ve spent my adult life dealing with the sense of low self-esteem that sort of implanted in me. Somehow I felt not worthy,” she told CNN. “Before I’m ‘Halle Berry,’ I’m little Halle….a little girl growing in an environment that damaged me…I’ve spent my adult life trying to really heal from that.” To honor her mother, Berry has been working with the Jenesse Center, a Los Angeles women’s shelter that helps families torn apart by domestic violence. “I have a spot in my soul that understands the devastation that this causes a family and how hard it is to rebuild your self-esteem when you’ve suffered,” says Berry.  Berry has a young daughter and is currently dating French actor, Oliver Martinez.