Halle Bailey says seeing a Black version of Ariel would have ‘changed my whole outlook on life’
Share
Explore Our Galleries
Breaking News!
Today's news and culture by Black and other reporters in the Black and mainstream media.
Ways to Support ABHM?
By Alex Portée, Today
![](https://www.abhmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/little-mermaid-tease-sk-220921-dc3702.webp)
Halle Bailey knows the worth of her role in the upcoming “The Little Mermaid” adaptation.
During a Q&A session posted to her Youtube account, the singer touched on the impact of her upcoming role as Ariel in Disney’s live-action remake of the 1989 animated classic.
When asked about the most significant lesson she learned while on set, Bailey expressed that self-belief played a big factor.
Bailey also described the strenuous process involved in stepping into the shoes — well, fin — of a beloved character who eventually learns how to walk and use her voice. According to Bailey, she trained for three months to build up her strength so she could act and sing while suspended in mid-air and while submerged under water.
“I dedicated so much time, blood, sweat, and tears went into this work for this film,” she explained. “In the process, I learned so much about myself.”
Still, in the weeks following the release of “The Little Mermaid” trailer, Bailey and the creators of the film received a wave of backlash in regards to her race on social media.
Read about Bailey’s experience taking on this beloved role.
The Little Mermaid joins Phantom of the Opera and The Lion King in casting Black actors in well-known roles.
Why not head over to our breaking news page for more stories?
Comments Are Welcome
Note: We moderate submissions in order to create a space for meaningful dialogue, a space where museum visitors – adults and youth –– can exchange informed, thoughtful, and relevant comments that add value to our exhibits.
Racial slurs, personal attacks, obscenity, profanity, and SHOUTING do not meet the above standard. Such comments are posted in the exhibit Hateful Speech. Commercial promotions, impersonations, and incoherent comments likewise fail to meet our goals, so will not be posted. Submissions longer than 120 words will be shortened.
See our full Comments Policy here.