Halle Bailey.Photo:Karwai Tang/WireImage
Karwai Tang/WireImage
Halle Baileyhas thanked the Black women in Disney who came before her, following her star-making turn inThe Little Mermaid.
Having warmed the hearts of Disney fans for her portrayal as Ariel, Bailey has given credit to the “amazing” Black actresses she grew up watching as Disney princesses, who inspired her to take on the iconic role.
Championing Brandy and Anika Noni Rose for their roles, Bailey, 23, toldET: “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.
Halle Bailey stars as Ariel in ‘The Little Mermaid’.Disney
“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. And Anika Noni Rose, who’s just outstanding.
Brandy as Cinderella in 1997.Walt Disney Television/Everett
“I’ve had the chance to meet her and we got to sing [The Princess and the Frog’s] song together, “Almost There” for [2022’sDisney Family Singalong] with my sister [Chloe Bailey]. She was always so kind!”
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Noni Rose starred in The Princess and the Frog.Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Bailey went on to describe the “beautiful” and “overwhelming” moments she has experienced in seeing the reactions from young Black girls to her now as their new Disney princess, in videos shared on social media.
“It’s been such a beautiful moment for me to be able to see the reactions of the babies – it makes me just emotionally overwhelmed honestly and I cry as soon as I watch them,“The Little Mermaidstar shared.
Bailey said “it heals that girl inside of me” to see the impact the representation from her latest role has had on the Black community and young generation watching her.
‘The Little Mermaid’ is in theaters now.Disney
Disney
“I think of the little girl that’s still in me, honestly, and it heals that girl inside of me to watch them feel like they have representation and someone to look to, to know that they deserve to be in those places too,” Bailey said.
“[It’s] so important. It just makes me cry anytime I see any of those videos.”
Bailey has much to celebrate, after the release ofThe Little Mermaid, after the film smashed the box office in its opening weekend.
source: people.com
