HALLE BERRY - HALLE BERRY HITS BACK AT CRITICS

HALLE BERRY has hit back at critics who believe her OSCAR-winning status should have stopped her from appearing on the cover of the latest issue of men's magazine FHM.

The screen beauty, who scooped last year's (02) coveted best actress ACADEMY AWARD for her efforts in MONSTER'S BALL, appears in boxing gloves and a slinky outfit alongside the headline "Halle Berry: The undisputed sexiest woman in the world" for the publication's November (03) issue.

But her decision to pose for the magazine's cover has sparked ire among a handful of critics, who believe her prestigious award should steer her to front more serious publications.

But her representative hits back, "Well, for one thing, GOTHIKA, which is Halle's new thriller, is aimed at a young male audience. So this photo shoot and the interview make sense.

"And, please tell me, why can't Halle be the Oscar-wining actress who is still a sexy pin-up, an artist straddling every film genre? Just because she won an Oscar for Monster's Ball doesn't mean she can't be the world's sexiest woman!"