In the midst of a bitter custody battle with adoptive parents played by Jessica Lange and David Strathairn, Berry was noted for her believable portrayal in the unglamorous role. Later that year, Berry overcame Hollywood’s racial barriers when she was cast as the first African-American to play the Queen of Sheeba in Showtime’s movie Solomon & Sheeba.

Berry’s other credits included two 1996 crime thrillers — The Rich Man’s Wife, and Executive Decision, which marked her first leading role in a feature. She took a turn as one of three wives laying claim to Frankie Lyman’s estate in the 1998 biographical drama Why Do Fools Fall in Love, and played a liberal urban youth in the political satire Bulworth (1998), opposite Hollywood veteran Warren Beatty. In 1999, Berry released her most passionate project to date, coproducing and starring in Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, an HBO biopic. Berry was noted for her striking resemblance to the late Dandridge, and for her engaging depiction of the actress’ struggle to succeed in the racially biased industry of 1950s Hollywood. Berry earned both a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award for Best Actress in a Television Movie for her role. Berry was featured in X-Men (2000), the big-budget screen adaptation of the long-running Marvel Comic. In the highly anticipated summer release Berry’s character, Storm, teamed with fellow mutant heroes played by Anna Paquin and Patrick Stewart. In the summer of 2001, she costarred with John Travolta in the disappointing action movie Swordfish, the publicity for which largely focused around Berry's topless scene.

Berry garnered the most positive critical notice of her film career in late 2001, for her performance as the wife of a death row prisoner (Sean "Puffy" Combs) who becomes romantically involved with a racist prison guard (Billy Bob Thornton) in the dark drama Monster's Ball. The role earned Berry a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Drama and serious Oscar buzz. For a short time, Berry was involved in a stormy relationship with Jungle Fever costar Wesley Snipes before she married Atlanta Braves outfielder David Justice, in 1993. Three years later, Berry filed for a divorce, which was finalized in 1997. In February of 2000, Berry was involved in a hit-and-run accident that erupted into a tabloid scandal. After enduring a minor head injury, she claimed that she did not remember leaving the scene. As a result of her actions, she was put on probation and fined $13,500. The driver of the other vehicle recently filed a civil suit against Berry, and both are currently awaiting a court hearing.