Halle Berry has some powerful guidance for the young Black women starting careers in Hollywood, and it might not be what you think. Unlike the typical advice about never turning down an opportunity and always being willing to step outside your comfort zone, Berry says it’s important to remember that you don’t always have to say yes—especially if there’s a fear of being typecast or used as a “token” character.“Honestly don’t allow yourself to be typecast and don’t operate as a token. Say no. You have the right to say no,” Berry told moderator Amanda Parris during a virtual TIFF In Conversation With… Halle Berry panel on September 11. “I would say create your own stories, write, direct, produce, create it for yourself… Create, create, create—that is the power. Imagine your own stories, and don't be denied. Even if others don't believe in the strength of your story, you believe in the strength of your story and be relentless in your pursuit. Don't take no. Be the hardest working person in the room. And I believe with that philosophy, you're going to get to the other side of any obstacle that's standing in your way.”

Speaking from experience

Berry speaks from experience. Not only was she the first Black woman to win the Best Actress category at the Oscars, but over the course of her career she has transitioned from a model, to an actress, to a producer and now a first-time director with her TIFF entry Bruised. Berry also stars in the movie, which revolves around a middle-aged female MMA fighter. Originally the script featured a 25-year-old Irish Catholic girl, but Berry pushed to have her vision of the story come to life instead—even though she was “scared sh-tless” about tackling her first directing gig.“I love to see a film that's about redemption. I want to see the human spirit soar. I want to see someone rise above obstacles and still be standing at the end of the day. And I think that's what most people relate to, because we all struggle in that way at some point in our life,” Berry said. “So there were so many things about it that felt like what I instinctively knew, but my job now was to figure out how I could convince the producers who had the rights to this movie, how I could convince them that they should let me reimagine it for a middle-aged Black woman, and how I could play this fighter and how I could tell this story. And that was a journey.”[video_embed id='2031618']RELATED: The stars making their directorial debuts at TIFF [/video_embed]

Putting herself out there early on

Of course this isn’t the first time Berry has had to fight to be taken seriously. When she first made the transition from modelling to acting and got a role on the TV series Living Dolls, she felt like the token character. And she knew right then and there that if she wanted to be seen as an actor, she would have to shed the model skin that she was used to walking around in. So when the opportunity to read for the part of the wife in Spike Lee’s 1991 film Jungle Fever arose, she asked if she could play the drug addict Vivian character instead.“I always felt like I was a token on [Living Dolls], I never really had much to do, I didn't have a real character or a part to play. So while I was grateful for that opportunity, the creator in me, the creative side of me, felt like I was missing something,” she said. “I knew early on that in order to be taken seriously as an actor, I would have to shed this physical self and sort of put on display my acting skill and the things that I've been working on and the things that I knew lived inside of me and the contribution that I knew I could make.”

Seeing a positive change

Berry has spoken a lot recently about the heartbreak of knowing that, despite her historic win at the Academy Awards 20 years ago, there hasn’t been another woman of colour to win the Best Actress trophy since. Yet she is still optimistic about the future of women of colour in TV and film going forward. Because of the sheer number of outlets that are available to creatives these days, picking and choosing what projects you work on (and thus getting meatier, more fulfilling roles) is a real and viable option. And that definitely wasn’t always the case.“Like 20 years ago, I remember having to do so many things that I didn't really want to do, because there was no other way. There weren't all these outlets now that we can go to. There weren't all of these companies who are supporting women and women of colour telling their stories. We didn't have the same opportunities,” Berry said during the conversation.“But today I would say no. I don't believe [saying yes is] the way to go. I would say stay clear and in your vision. Be clear about the stories that you want to tell. Make them as authentic and as real as you possibly can from your own personal gaze on the situation and fight for it. Fight. Stand up and fight and have the courage to fight. Be brave. Be brave; don't be led by fear, but be led by strength and knowledge.”The 2020 Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 10 to September 19.[video_embed id='2028858']BEFORE YOU GO: Grandfather meets granddaughter for the first time [/video_embed]