Halle Bailey on Brandy, Anika Noni Rose's Impact and Openness to Play Janet Jackson in Biopic
Halle Bailey is making waves as she takes on the iconic role of Ariel in the live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid. Her breathtaking portrayal has captivated audiences, earning praise from fans and Jodi Benson, the original Ariel. With her fresh take on the beloved character, Bailey brings a new dimension to the story, emphasizing the importance of diversity and representation.
As part of the film's promotion, Bailey has been on a significant press tour, giving fans a taste of her angelic performance through her rendition of "Part of Your World," now available on streaming platforms. This modern twist on the Disney classic goes beyond mere talk of representation and showcases it on screen, highlighting the power of inclusivity.
Notably, the film goes beyond casting a Black actress as Ariel; it embraces diversity in various aspects. Bailey's portrayal allows little Black and Brown children to see themselves in Ariel and the other characters, including her six sisters, who represent different ethnicities. The Queen, played by Noma Dumezweni, is a Black woman, and a new character in the movie further expands the representation.
The impact of Bailey's role extends beyond the film itself. Mattel has released a doll featuring her version of Ariel, allowing even more children to see themselves represented in mainstream media. This shift towards inclusivity is a significant milestone for Black and Brown individuals in Hollywood, and it is hoped to begin an ongoing renaissance.
In a heartfelt conversation with BET.com, Bailey discusses how she added her twist to "Part of Your World," the emotional experience of receiving Ariel dolls modeled after her, and her openness to playing Janet Jackson in a biopic. This rising star's journey inspires and amplifies the importance of diverse storytelling and representation in the entertainment industry.
BET.com: Your rendition of ‘Part Of Your World’ is angelic. In what ways did you make sure to put your spin on this classic record, keeping the originality but adding your modern twist?
Halle Bailey: I felt like I had such an amazing base already – [Jodi Benson] is such a legend and I was grateful to perform a song that was done so greatly before me. Going into it, I was really excited because this was a song I had heard ever since I was a little girl so I already knew the words, the crescendo, and everything. I was also grateful for the freedom I was allowed to have – I consider myself a singer first sometimes so the fact that I was able to keep those rifts and nuances, our director [Rob Marshall] was encouraging me to be myself and it made me feel seen and heard as an artist.
BET: What does it mean to be a Disney Princess now?
Halle Bailey: It means the world to me to be a Disney Princess – there are so many layers to what that means and a big part of me is still wrapping my head around the massiveness of it all [laughs]. I honestly think of the little girl inside of me who would watch The Little Mermaid all the time – the reason why I wanted to be in the water is because of Ariel so reinventing this version of her is surreal but makes me proud to show other Black and Brown babies, children, peers my age and older, that we deserve to be in these spaces and we deserve to see ourselves.
BET: You’re playing Ariel, Yara Shahidi is Tinkerbell and so many Black children have always dreamed of being part of those worlds. With this representation, how impactful do you feel your performances will be as fans head to the theaters to see you play roles traditionally given to our white counterparts?
I think this will be very impactful – I know how impactful it was to see [Brandy] as Cinderella and to see [Anika Noni Rose] as Princess Tiana. It does something to your spirit as a Black person and makes you feel worthy, confident, and like you deserve to be in these spaces. I already know it will be impactful – Yara as Tinkerbell is impactful to me, too. That little girl in me is so amazed that people will be able to see this movie and see that through me is like whoa.
BET: Your Ariel doll continues to sell out everywhere — when you learned they were modeling the doll after you, what thoughts ran through your head?
Halle Bailey: It’s so overwhelming to be honest – I’m still pinching myself if I can be real. The [Ariel] doll is something – I never thought I would see myself as a doll ever in life so seeing the doll and she looks like me even down to my mole, it does something for my spirit and that little girl in me. I cried – the other day I received a big box of merchandise from Disney and I remembered sitting on my living room floor, opening the box, and I pulled out each doll. One of them could sing and it was my voice coming out of her – I just sat there sobbing for 45 minutes straight thanking God for this whole thing and the position that I’m in. It’s healing and it’s surreal to me so it’s incredible.
BET: Who does Halle look up to?
Halle Bailey: I have so many amazing people in my life that I look up to – I look up to my sister [Chlöe Bailey], who is my biggest inspiration and my angel. I feel like she is honestly a second mom to me and treats me like I’m her baby girl – she’s my best friend and without her, i don’t think I can be doing any of this because she’s the one that has encouraged me to come out of my comfort zone and out of my shell. After all, she sees something in me I never thought I was in me. Also, our beautiful mentor Beyoncé who has been in our corner since I was 13 years old – having that stamp of approval from somebody as impactful to our community like she is and a living legend like she is surreal. Other notable women like Alicia Keys, Destiny’s Child, Whitney Houston, Nina Simone, and many other Black women and pioneers have come before me that I look up to.
BET: Your body looked amazing in the film, your abs looked great! Was there a training process to get to a particular goal for the role?
Halle Bailey: It was a lot of physical work I had to do – I was in the best shape of my life and this was three years ago so not so much anymore [laughs]. It was intense stunts – I would be in the gym at 4 am every day in a harness and use my core strength to lift my whole body weight while acting and singing while looking natural and not shaking. It was a lot of physicality.
BET: You have such an elegance to yourself, very reminiscent of Janet Jackson and fans have even tossed you in the conversation as someone they would love to see play her. Would you consider playing Janet?
Halle Bailey: Oh my goodness, I love Janet Jackson so absolutely. If I were to play her, I would have to really do my best to try to be the epitome of the greatness of who she is and give it my all because if somebody does a thing for her, it has to be right because she is the Janet [laughs].
BET: Everyone knows the story of Ariel wanting to be a part of the human world and ultimately gets her wish — you yearned to be a part of the entertainment world and are living your purpose, ultimately getting yours. How have you been settling into your career and if you could be granted one wish right now, what would you ask for?
Halle Bailey: Wow – genuinely, I feel so grateful to God. This is a new start for me and a new pathway leading me into this acting journey. I’m grateful for it because I didn’t see this happening for myself five years ago, so I let myself go and give it all to God and let Him steer me. Who knows, after this, maybe I’ll do more things like this, maybe more music – I’m letting go and letting God honestly.
Amen to that. Grab your family, and friends, and make sure you head under the sea to see Halle portray Ariel in The Little Mermaid, which swims into theaters on May 26th. is making waves as she takes on the iconic role of Ariel in the live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid. Her breathtaking portrayal has captivated audiences, earning praise from fans and Jodi Benson, the original Ariel. With her fresh take on the beloved character, Bailey brings a new dimension to the story, emphasizing the importance of diversity and representation.
As part of the film's promotion, Bailey has been on a significant press tour, giving fans a taste of her angelic performance through her rendition of "Part of Your World," now available on streaming platforms. This modern twist on the Disney classic goes beyond mere talk of representation and showcases it on screen, highlighting the power of inclusivity.
Notably, the film goes beyond casting a Black actress as Ariel; it embraces diversity in various aspects. Bailey's portrayal allows little Black and Brown children to see themselves in Ariel and the other characters, including her six sisters, who represent different ethnicities. The Queen, played by Noma Dumezweni, is a Black woman, and a new character in the movie further expands the representation.
The impact of Bailey's role extends beyond the film itself. Mattel has released a doll featuring her version of Ariel, allowing even more children to see themselves represented in mainstream media. This shift towards inclusivity is a significant milestone for Black and Brown individuals in Hollywood, and it is hoped to begin an ongoing renaissance.
In a heartfelt conversation with BET.com, Bailey discusses how she added her twist to "Part of Your World," the emotional experience of receiving Ariel dolls modeled after her, and her openness to playing Janet Jackson in a biopic. This rising star's journey inspires and amplifies the importance of diverse storytelling and representation in the entertainment industry.
BET.com: Your rendition of ‘Part Of Your World’ is angelic. In what ways did you make sure to put your spin on this classic record, keeping the originality but adding your modern twist?
Halle Bailey: I felt like I had such an amazing base already – [Jodi Benson] is such a legend and I was grateful to perform a song that was done so greatly before me. Going into it, I was really excited because this was a song I had heard ever since I was a little girl so I already knew the words, the crescendo, and everything. I was also grateful for the freedom I was allowed to have – I consider myself a singer first sometimes so the fact that I was able to keep those rifts and nuances, our director [Rob Marshall] was encouraging me to be myself and it made me feel seen and heard as an artist.
BET: What does it mean to be a Disney Princess now?
Halle Bailey: It means the world to me to be a Disney Princess – there are so many layers to what that means and a big part of me is still wrapping my head around the massiveness of it all [laughs]. I honestly think of the little girl inside of me who would watch The Little Mermaid all the time – the reason why I wanted to be in the water is because of Ariel so reinventing this version of her is surreal but makes me proud to show other Black and Brown babies, children, peers my age and older, that we deserve to be in these spaces and we deserve to see ourselves.
BET: You’re playing Ariel, Yara Shahidi is Tinkerbell and so many Black children have always dreamed of being part of those worlds. With this representation, how impactful do you feel your performances will be as fans head to the theaters to see you play roles traditionally given to our white counterparts?
I think this will be very impactful – I know how impactful it was to see [Brandy] as Cinderella and to see [Anika Noni Rose] as Princess Tiana. It does something to your spirit as a Black person and makes you feel worthy, confident, and like you deserve to be in these spaces. I already know it will be impactful – Yara as Tinkerbell is impactful to me, too. That little girl in me is so amazed that people will be able to see this movie and see that through me is like whoa.
BET: Your Ariel doll continues to sell out everywhere — when you learned they were modeling the doll after you, what thoughts ran through your head?
Halle Bailey: It’s so overwhelming to be honest – I’m still pinching myself if I can be real. The [Ariel] doll is something – I never thought I would see myself as a doll ever in life so seeing the doll and she looks like me even down to my mole, it does something for my spirit and that little girl in me. I cried – the other day I received a big box of merchandise from Disney and I remembered sitting on my living room floor, opening the box, and I pulled out each doll. One of them could sing and it was my voice coming out of her – I just sat there sobbing for 45 minutes straight thanking God for this whole thing and the position that I’m in. It’s healing and it’s surreal to me so it’s incredible.
BET: Who does Halle look up to?
Halle Bailey: I have so many amazing people in my life that I look up to – I look up to my sister [Chlöe Bailey], who is my biggest inspiration and my angel. I feel like she is honestly a second mom to me and treats me like I’m her baby girl – she’s my best friend and without her, i don’t think I can be doing any of this because she’s the one that has encouraged me to come out of my comfort zone and out of my shell. After all, she sees something in me I never thought I was in me. Also, our beautiful mentor Beyoncé who has been in our corner since I was 13 years old – having that stamp of approval from somebody as impactful to our community like she is and a living legend like she is surreal. Other notable women like Alicia Keys, Destiny’s Child, Whitney Houston, Nina Simone, and many other Black women and pioneers have come before me that I look up to.
BET: Your body looked amazing in the film, your abs looked great! Was there a training process to get to a particular goal for the role?
Halle Bailey: It was a lot of physical work I had to do – I was in the best shape of my life and this was three years ago so not so much anymore [laughs]. It was intense stunts – I would be in the gym at 4 am everyday in a harness and use my core strength to lift my whole body weight while acting and singing while looking natural and not shaking. It was a lot of physicality.
BET: You have such an elegance to yourself, very reminiscent of Janet Jackson and fans have even tossed you in the conversation as someone they would love to see play her. Would you consider playing Janet?
Halle Bailey: Oh my goodness, I love Janet Jackson so absolutely. If I were to play her, I would have to really do my best to try to be the epitome of the greatness of who she is and give it my all because if somebody does a thing for her, it has to be right because she is the Janet [laughs].
BET: Everyone knows the story of Ariel wanting to be a part of the human world and ultimately gets her wish — you yearned to be a part of the entertainment world and are living your purpose, ultimately getting yours. How have you been settling into your career and if you could be granted one wish right now, what would you ask for?
Halle Bailey: Wow – genuinely, I feel so grateful to God. This is a new start for me and a new pathway leading me into this acting journey. I’m grateful for it because I didn’t see this happening for myself five years ago, so I let myself go and give it all to God and let Him steer me. Who knows, after this, maybe I’ll do more things like this, maybe more music – I’m letting go and letting God honestly.
Amen to that. Grab your family, and friends, and make sure you head under the sea to see Halle portray Ariel in The Little Mermaid, which swims into theaters on May 26th.
*This interview has been edited for length and clarity
Ty Cole is a New York-based entertainment reporter and writer for BET.com who covers all things pop culture, entertainment, and lifestyle. Follow his latest musings on Twitter @IamTyCole.
