Hall Bailey says she was moved to tears when she saw the reactions of young black girls to her role as Ariel in the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid.
In a recent interview with shineHalle spoke about watching the reaction videos to the film’s extended trailer.
“When I first saw these, I just cried,” she told the magazine. “I sobbed uncontrollably. The fact that these babies are looking at me and feeling the emotions they are feeling is a really humbling and beautiful thing.”
Halle says seeing the reactions “heals something inside her.”
She said of the trailer’s early reception:
“When I see how the babies react, they are proud of me and happy with how they react [the movie] Looks I’m just so happy with this reaction. It almost heals something in me and my spirit.”
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Halle told the outlet that she and her sister Chlöe were huge admirers when they were kids Beyonce And child of fate. But there weren’t enough portrayals on film and television that reflected the sisters, she said.
The 2009 Disney animated film The Princess and the Frog did it for Halle, especially the black actress and singer Anika Noni Rose as Tiana.
“I know how much this film changed my whole perspective on life,” she says. “Wow, that’s possible. Black princesses are possible. We deserve to occupy these spaces as well.”
@adeliachai2 I show my daughter the teaser trailer for The Little Mermaid. #fyp #little Mermaid #hallebailey #disney #brownskingirl #The little mermaid
Celebs offered a sneak peek at the live-action remake The Little Mermaid, which hits theaters this Friday
Halle’s debut film premiered earlier this month to an exclusive Hollywood audience with great anticipation. Meanwhile, the general public had to wait a little longer to see it. However, several celebrities including Offset, Kelly Rowland and Chlöe Bailey were personally invited to an exclusive early screening.
“The little mermaid” hits theaters on Friday (May 26), loud United States today.
