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Halle Bailey is making history as the first Black actor to play Ariel in Disney’s upcoming live-action adaptation of “The Little Mermaid,” and she is well aware of the responsibility that comes with it. “It’s about time that a role like this is played by a Black woman, by somebody who is just a part of this beautiful community. We deserve to have images that look like us and to see ourselves in the media on big screens and everything,” Bailey tells POPSUGAR.
The 22-year-old first gained recognition as one half of the four-time Grammy-nominated duo Chloe x Halle alongside her older sister, Chlöe, but has since branched out on her own. The biggest challenge Bailey has faced as she navigates her career on her own, she says, is believing in herself. “We have to constantly encourage ourselves and remind ourselves that we are worthy, we can do it. We just sometimes need that extra push,” she explains.
The full trailer for “The Little Mermaid” debuted during the 2023 Oscars, and in just 24 hours, it reached more than 108 million views, making it one of the most-watched trailers for any title in Disney’s live-action catalog. Bailey recalls her initial reaction to the trailer, saying, “I was so excited. I was screaming. I was just so happy it looked the way it does.”
The movie also stars British actor Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric and Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, both of whom Bailey says she really bonded with, as well as the rest of the cast. One of Bailey’s “pinch-me” moments happened recently at the Academy Awards, where she sat next to Zoe Saldana and Halle Berry was in front of them. Another person Bailey looks up to? Her mentor, Beyoncé, she says, adding, “She is kind of the legend for all of us. I think inspiration that we all need.”
In addition to “The Little Mermaid,” Bailey is set to portray Nettie in the upcoming “The Color Purple” adaptation, as well as Annabelle Bascom in director Ethan Berger’s thriller “The Line.” She has also partnered up with Zyrtec to kick off spring and celebrate its multicity Beat the Mondays Tour, which will be making stops in select cities across the country to help allergy sufferers feel their best.
“The Little Mermaid” hits theaters on May 26.
