Star Magazine has an original interview with new mom Halle Berry, and the way the Oscar-winning actress talks about motherhood you can tell she’s cherishing every moment with her newborn daughter. Halle had Nahla Ariela two months ago and has yet to command millions for a photo spread with the newborn or even release a picture. 41-year-old Halle says she’s cherishing being a mother and it’s something she waited a long time for.

Halle talks about a period in her life when she almost burnt out from working too hard. She says she’s looking forward to easing up on her work schedule now so that she can focus on being a mom. As for getting her body back, she says she works out an hour a day five times a week with a personal trainer.

Are you enjoying becomina mother at last?
This is the most beautiful time of my life. Having a baby has made me so happy and fulfilled, I just can’t express in words how I really feel. To be able to nurse and bond with my daughter is such a joy. It’s been a long, long wait!

Did you know you were going to have a girl?
Gabriel and I both agreed that we would rather not know and let it be a wonderful surprise. I just felt a lot more comfortable not knowing.

Has Nahla brought the two of you closer together?
From the beginning, Gabriel was someone I felt I could feel very close and loving to, and I also knew from early on that he was the kind of man who would love a cihld as much as me. I’m happy just being with a man who loves me unconditionally and is looking forward to the future with me.

Has being a mom changed your approach to your acting career?
I’m definitely going to work less. I used to put so much pressure on myself to succeed that it often made me very unhappy in my personal life, and I felt on the verge of burning out three or four years ago. Also, I feel having a baby will open up a whole new world for me. I think I’ll actually find better roles, because I’ve gotten past being the ingenue and sex symbol.

But you look as gorgeous as ever! Was it tough getting back into shape?
It’s been kind of tough. But I have a great trainer [LA-based trainer Ramona Braganza] and we’ve been working out an hour a day, five days a week, for the past month. I didn’t want it to take five months to get back my figure. It was something I wanted to take care of now and just not worry about. I feel really good.

Have you been able to fit in any other time for yourself?
Well, Nahla is keeping me pretty busy with feedings, but it’s always a pleasure to oblige. Gabriel and I also plan to sleep again in a few months, as soon as Nahla’s nighttime feeding schedule allows!

[From Star Magazine, print edition, June 9, 2008]

Halle really sounds like she’s so happy to finally be a mom and that it means a lot to her to be there for her newborn daughter. I like how she explains that she’s going to continue working but that won’t push herself as much. She has three movies that start filming later in the year, according to Star. IMDB lists five upcoming films for her.

Halle was seen out shopping this weekend, and she looks great. Her workout schedule sounds pretty reasonable too.

Halle Berry is shown out shopping with her mom on 5/31/08, thanks to WENN.