June 8, 2001
Berry's hubby shows his love in song
By LOUIS B. HOBSON
How does he love her?

Check out the songs.

In January, Halle Berry married musician Eric Benet.

Benet is working on a new CD and credits Berry with inspiring at least six of the songs.

"There are a lot of love songs on this CD and just a lot of songs about people coming together and what that feels like,'' said Berry, during recent interviews for her new film Swordfish, opening in theatres today.

"There are other songs about starting a new life together. All the songs are very lovely,'' adds Berry.

Berry divorced her first husband, New York Yankees slugger David Justice, in 1996 after three years of marriage.

Berry credits Benet with giving her the confidence to take the part in Swordfish, her edgiest role to date. She has her first brief partial nude scene, which has been the talk of Hollywood with speculation - since denied by Berry - that she earned a $500,000 US bonus for agreeing to appear topless in one scene.

"I'm just a lot more settled in life these days. I think if I had not been married, maybe I wouldn't have made the choice at this time to do a role like I did in Swordfish.

"Eric is so supportive of who I am and where I am trying to go as an actress and as a black woman. It was refreshing to know he could look at my (nude) scene and say: 'God, that really looked beautiful.'

"He didn't feel the least bit insecure. He didn't try to be like a ball and chain like some men might. He's very much about letting me fly.''

Berry insists she is equally supportive of her husband's forays into acting.

"Eric is in All That Glitters with Mariah Carey. I haven't seen the picture but I know it's a small, small part. Still I know it was fun for him and I support him in whatever he wants to do, just like he does me.''