DALLAS, Jan 4, 2006/ FW/ --- Academy-award winning actress Halle Berry landed the starring role at Versace, for the famed Italian fashion house Spring/Summer 2006 advertising campaign.

Shot by Mario Testino in Los Angeles last November, Halle Berry portrays today’s Versace woman – strong and confident but feminine at the same time.

“She [Halle Berry] represents everything that is great about this collection – someone who loves color, has a real sensuality, who is strong yet feminine and who is a real woman who has lived,” said Donatella Versace about her new star.

Donatella who has always chosen inspirational women to represent the House of Versace continues the house’s ‘new mood’ that started last September in Milan with the preview of Versace’s Spring / Summer 2006 collection - glamorous and sensual but not overtly sexy.

In Donatella’s ‘new mood,’ glamour is within the reach of real women, which also prompted the choice of Halle Berry as the new face of Versace.

“For me [Halle Berry] is easier to relate to and more relevant than a model and of course she looks simply beautiful in the clothes,” commented Donatella about the star of X Men 3 due in theater May 2006.

Halle Berry who plays Storm in the sci-fi thriller was filming the movie when the campaign was shot last November. She only had one day off in which to complete the shoot. Berry worked tirelessly from 5:00 AM to 1:00 AM the following morning – 20 hours straight, without batting an eyelid.

Berry, to whom one of life’s simple pleasures is expressing herself through the clothes she wears, enjoys wearing Versace on and off screen stated, “The minute I put on a Versace piece, I instantly feel sexy, confident and glamorous.”

Commenting on her role as the face of Versace, the Academy Award winning actress said, “I'm honored to represent the House of Versace. [It] is without a doubt an Icon of the fashion world.”

The campaign will run worldwide in select fashion and lifestyle magazines from February onwards.