I Knew Then: Halle Berry Rewatches & Relives The Flintstones Movie 30 Years Later
Summary
- Halle Berry played Sharon Stone, Fred Flintstone’s secretary in the 1994 movie version of
The Flintstones
. - Watching her
Flintstones
role, Berry reflects on the cultural impact of playing a Black woman in Bedrock. - Berry’s casting as Sharon Stone was unexpected, subverting expectations by placing a Black woman in a role originally intended for a white woman.
Halle Berry reflects on her role in The Flintstones three decades after the film’s release. Based on the hit animated series of the same name, The Flintstones is a 1994 comedy film about the titular Stone Age caveman family. It was directed by Brian Levant and featured a leading cast including Berry, John Goodman, Rick Moranis, Rosie O’Donnell, Elizabeth Perkins, Kyle MacLachlan, Elizabeth Taylor, and Dann Florek.
The Flintstones
is available to stream on Starz and rent on Prime Video.
As per a post on Berry’s Instagram, the actress reflects upon the importance of her Flintstones role. Speaking on the platform, Berry posted a video of her rewatching The Flintstones, which she said she had not watched in over 20 years. Watching her character’s introduction scene, Berry said that she “remembers the music” that introduced “that swanky, sexy girl.” She went further into her casting, saying “Being a Black woman in Bedrock seemed like a little thing, but you know, The Flintstones was the fabric of our culture. I knew that this was a big step forward for Black people.”
Berry went on to say “While it was silly, and over the top, and campy, I knew then how important this little part in this big movie actually would be.” She captioned the video with “You guys message me every year about ‘The Flintstones’ film so I thought I’d do something special for the 30th anniversary. Love you all for loving Miss Stone all this time.”
Why Halle Berry’s Flintstones Casting Was So Notable (& Unexpected)
Berry played the role of Sharon Stone, Fred Flintstone’s secretary in The Flintstones. At the time of her casting, Berry’s career was newer was a lesser-known actress than she is now. She had not yet acted in and won her Oscar for Monster’s Ball, nor had she appeared in key action films such as X-Men and Catwoman. Furthermore, Berry was not the actress originally in mind for the role. That honor went to the actual Sharon Stone, who was envisioned for the part but couldn’t participate due to scheduling issues.
Related
20 Best Quotes From The Flintstones
The Flintstones may have first aired all the way back in 1960, but this prehistoric animated classic is truly timeless and just as funny today.
Thus, Berry’s Miss Stone was not just establishing “a Black woman in Bedrock,” but it was casting a Black woman in a role originally intended for a white woman. In 1994, this subversion of expectation was largely unheard of. As Berry mentions, The Flintstones was a well-established IP, with many people having grown up with it. Thus, casting a Black person in this role, even if a smaller part, was somewhat revolutionary for its time.
Albeit goofy, Berry’s character is portrayed as a romantically desirable character. This also made The Flintstones ahead of its time, for it put a Black woman as the main romantic interest in a time when that archetype went almost exclusively to white women. The “swanky, sexy girl” may have been “over-the-topandcampy,” but she also had an incredibly significant role for the time of her release.
Source: Halle Berry / Instagram
The Flintstones
The Flintstones is an animated series created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. The series chronicles the life of the Flintstones, a family living during the Stone Age. Married couple Fred and Wilma, along with their neighbors Barney and Betty, try to navigate life during the prehistoric era.
