Halle Bailey Gushes Over Following the Path of 'Beautiful Black Women Pioneers' in 'The Little Mermaid'
Halle Bailey is paying homage to the Black princesses that came before her.
After making a splash in theaters last weekend with her performance as Ariel in the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, the 23-year-old expressed her heartfelt gratitude towards the trailblazing Black women who paved the way for her in Disney.
While speaking with ET’s Nischelle Turner, Bailey said it felt “absolutely amazing" to be a part of the prestigious lineage of Disney Princesses. She expressed particular pride in being one of the few Black princesses to grace the screen, citing Brandy and Anika Noni Rose as her inspirations.
"I just am really grateful to be in this position," Bailey said. "I loved Brandy as Cinderella; she was so amazing, such a role model and inspiration, and a really big kind of studying point for me as I was taking on Ariel."
The Grown-ish alum continued, “I just watched how amazing she was in that role and how comfortable she was in her skin, and how impactful to audiences and little girls like me who watched it.”
Bailey gushed as she spoke about Rose, who she described as “just outstanding.” The actress revealed she had a chance to meet the veteran star, and “we got to sing [The Princess and the Frog's] song together, ‘Almost There’ for [2022's Disney Family Singalong] with my sister. [Chlöe Bailey]. She was always so kind!”
Reflecting on the profound impact made by these actresses who came before her, Bailey expressed, “There are these beautiful Black women pioneers who've done this before and been there for me to be able to say, 'OK, I can do this.'"
Fans can watch the actress as Ariel in The Little Mermaid in theaters now and later this year in the musical remake of The Color Purple starring Taraji P. Henson, Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks, and more. The film hit theaters this Christmas.
