Homeless Halle Berry

Mar 15, 2007, 13:10 GMT

Halle Berry arrives for the Ebony Magazine Pre Oscar party in Hollywood, California, Thursday, 22 February 2007. EPA/PAUL BUCK

Halle Berry lived in a homeless shelter when she first left home.

The Oscar-winning actress has revealed her mother refused to support her when she ran out of money aged 21 - leaving her homeless.

Halle, 40, told Reader's Digest magazine: "But a girl had to do what a girl had to do. You can do that when you're 21 and ambitious and your eyes are this big and you don't want to go home. I became a person who knows that I will always make my own way.

"When I moved to Chicago, she drove me there, but I don't think she ever thought it would pan out. After a month or two, I ran out of money and called her.

"I said, 'Mom, I hate to ask you this, but could you send me some money? I just have rent money, I can't eat this week.'

"And she said no. She said, 'I'm not going to start this calling home asking mom for money. No, figure it out or come home.' I was so mad. I didn't speak to her for a year-and-a-half."

The 'Perfect Stranger' star has forgiven her mother and believes the experience made her stronger.

She said: "I'm actually grateful she did that, because it taught me how to take care of myself and that I could live through any situation, even if it meant going to a shelter for a small stint, or living within my means, which were meagre."

Meanwhile, friends of Halle claim her boyfriend, model Gabriel Aubry, is about to propose.

A source told the New York Post newspaper: "They've moved in together in Los Angeles, and although they have separate residences in New York, they always stay in the same place and are together constantly.

"I wouldn't be shocked if Aubry proposed soon."

(C) BANG Media International