Halle Berry reflects on role that was a “big step forward for Black people”
Halle Berry‘s rise to the top of the Hollywood was stratospheric. Within a few years of making her big screen debut, she was a household name and The Flinstones played a pivotal role in the escalation of her status.
It was Spike Lee who first gave her the chance to express her cinematic muscles in 1991’s Jungle Fever, and three years later, Berry was starring in the live-action adaptation of The Flinstones. While it was reviewed poorly upon release, it was a sensation with children, and proved to be a rousing success at the box office, netting close to $350 million.
Despite arriving to a negative reception, Berry remains proud of The Flinstones, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. In the movie, she portrayed Miss Sharon Stone, who goes on a powerful arc across the film as she turns her back on her villainous ways, and eventually helps Fred Flinstone, portrayed by John Goodman, after previously being a thorn in his side.
Taking to Instagram, Berry watched back a scene in the movie that features Fred and Barney Rubble, played by Rick Moranis. Explaining why she was choosing to reflect, Berry revealed: “I thought it might be really cool to look at some of my scenes because I legit haven’t seen this movie in probably 20 years.”
Berry stated the role was “important” to her due to her race and the prominence of The Flinstones in the culture she was raised, noting, “Being a Black woman in Bedrock seemed like a little thing but, you know, The Flintstones was the fabric of our culture.”
The actor went onto add, “I knew that this was a big step forward for Black people, Black women especially.”
Although she was acutely aware the film was likely to be ridiculed, it was too much of a culturally significant role to turn down, adding, “While it was silly, and it was over the top and campy, I knew then how important this little part in this big movie actually would be.”
This isn’t the first time Berry has reflected upon the legacy of Miss Stone. In 2022, she took to Twitter to share GIFs of the character from the film, which she posted along with the caption: “Everyone said, ‘oh why would you want to do a movie based on a cartoon?’ .. to see 28 years later, that this character has become so beloved and has resonated with so many of you is so gratifying (love heart symbol) draped in brown, but Miss Stone is still the blueprint.”
Although many people would deride The Flinstones as a failure, Berry is firmly of the other persuasion and believes the fact the movie is still discussed 30 years later suggests otherwise.
Never Miss A Scene
The Far Out Film Newsletter
All the latest film news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.