Halle Bailey, the 26-year-old actor and musician, has reflected on the racist backlash she faced after being cast as Ariel in Disney’s live-action remake of The Little Mermaid. Speaking ahead of the release of her new romantic comedy You, Me & Tuscany, Bailey described the experience as 'a beautiful experience' that taught her to 'block out the noise'.
Bailey, who rose to fame as one half of the duo Chloe x Halle, said she viewed the online criticism 'like an experiment'. She explained: 'I felt like I was watching myself inside a cup, seeing how people react to it.' The actor, who was 20 when her casting was announced, acknowledged the 'rough seas' she weathered as a locs-wearing Ariel.
Her new film, a romcom set in Italy co-starring Regé-Jean Page, marks a departure from her previous roles. 'This is the first time where I am playing a grown version of myself,' Bailey said, noting that becoming a mother has made her feel like 'an official adult woman'. The film is notable for featuring two Black leads in a major studio release, a fact Bailey called 'weird that it is so rare'.
Bailey, who signed to Beyoncé’s label at 13 and earned Grammy nominations by 18, said she carries herself with the composure of someone much older. 'It’s a running joke in my family that I’ve been a grandma since I was a little girl,' she said, adding that she got chills listening to Billie Holiday at age six.
