Whenever we're in need of a sartorial swimwear muse, our minds often drift to the striking orange bikini, accented with a white belt, worn by Halle Berry in the 2002 James Bond movie Die Another Day.
The bold bikini featured a plunging triangle bra top paired with matching cheekster bottoms. A white leather belt cinched Halle Berry’s waist, complete with a silver buckle and a side pocket for a knife – the ultimate sultry combination.
At the time, the actress's brunette locks were cut short in a chic pixie style while her makeup was left natural and radiant. Starring as the character Jinx, Halle was the iconography of the Bond Girl.
However, some may wonder what happened to the itsy bitsy swimwear number. During an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, Halle was asked if she got to keep the two-piece. "Yep!" said Halle of the more than two decade old bikini.
This isn't the first time the actress has opened up about the iconic ensemble. During an interview with Vogue back in 2021, Halle revealed that she tried on endless bikinis before they found the perfect orange number. "We tried on so many bathing suits," she told the publication. "So many bikinis and so many belts."
© PA Images via Getty Images"We had a knowing that it would maybe, because it was in a Bond movie, become an iconic situation… something that would live a very, very long time," she added.
At the time, there was speculation of a Jinx spinoff following the success of the movie. However, Halle shared that studios were too afraid to invest in the film. Producer Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson pitched for the Bond Girl to have her own movie, but MGM declined due to the $80 million budget.
"It was ahead of its time. Nobody was ready to sink that kind of money into a black female action star. They just weren't sure of its value. That's where we were then," Halle told Variety. She called the decision "disappointing".
Halle's engagement
© WireImageHalle's appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show comes after she announced her engagement to her longtime partner, Van Hint. Jewellery expert Nilesh Rakholia spoke to us about Halle's ring and estimated its worth to be around "six-figures". "Halle Berry's selection of the architectural, grid-set band is an excellent illustration of how an engagement ring may serve as a symbol of personal identity and history," they shared. "This is an intentional break from typical Hollywood glamour, with the jewels serving as a structural statement of self-assurance rather than simply a sign of romance."
