Halle Bailey, the 23-year-old singer who jumps from musical waters to act in her first role as Ariel, in ‘The Little Mermaid’

The Story of Hans Christian Andersen steps into the real world with Disney’s film adaptation starring 23-year-old actress and singer Halle Bailey in the role of Ariel, The little Mermaid, and that it will be released in Ecuador on Thursday, May 25.

Even before the pandemic, the tape has been involved in harsh comments on social networks for the to pour and, more recently, for the recreation of marine characters such as Sebastián and Bot. However, the specialist critics who were able to attend an anticipated screening already rank the Rob Marshall (Chicago) directed film as one of the best live action from Disney.

Before you get the role, Bailey was already part of the music scene as part of the Chloe x Halle duoalong with her sister, with whom she was nominated five times for the Grammy Awards.

His career started 14 years ago, when they performed the Beyoncé classic the best I’ve never had on Youtube, which earned them an invitation to appear on The Ellen DeGeneres Show after it went viral on the internet. They have since become very close with Beyoncé, for whom they opened The Formation World Tour and who invited them to make cameos in Lemonade, his visual album.

Thanks to that acting and singing talent, Bailey is now one of Disney’s princesses.

“Our goal was to find someone who was incredibly passionate, intelligent, vulnerable, cunning, with a lot of fire and fun,” recalled Marshall, the film’s director. “When I first saw Halle, she looked so young and out of this world, her voice was just angelic. Plus, he had such a deep connection to what he was singing about.

“We were looking for the best actress for the role, period. We saw everyone and actresses of all ethnicities. There wasn’t really an agenda. As a director, you hope that an actress comes in and claims the part and says, ‘this is mine,’ and that’s exactly what happened to her.”.

According to Halle, who despite being on the verge of becoming a superstar, maintains a shy and sweet energy, she remembers the moment she received the mail inviting her to participate in the to pour. “I? For Ariel? I could not believe it. I was really excited because that movie has been one of my favorites since I was a kid.”, he noted. “I remember watching The little Mermaid imagining over and over that I was Ariel and singing the songs, but I never thought I’d start interpreting it”.

The actress also admits that being a mermaid is magical., especially with a character that combines the presence of that beautiful mythical creature with Ariel’s authentic self. “I think that’s why so many kids love it, because I can be this kind of magical creature that’s who I am. It’s very special to see her go on that journey and fight for herself and what she wants. I feel like Ariel and I are on the same path, which is why I was so committed to the role and feel so honored to play it.”.

Likewise, the young singer finds a parallel between her leap from music to acting and Ariel’s leap from the depths of the sea to the terrestrial world.

“I feel like I’m entering a different world where I learn things every day, like Ariel, who doesn’t know the world outside the water and who is constantly amazed and shocked by everything new and what she discovers.he mused. “We both come from big families, I’m the youngest of my sisters, just like them, and my dad, like Ariel’s, always wanted to protect and protect me from certain things in the world. Working with Javier Bardem (who plays King Triton) was so great because I felt like I was talking to my dad about going out into the world and growing up.”.

Underwater music + a prince

for Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King who plays Eric, Ariel’s romantic interest, is the perfect prince. “He is true to himself in every way. He is very tall and when he enters a room he looks majestic. He’s a beautiful human being, inside and out, and I really think Eric is like that. He is an adventurer, but also a friendly ghost.Bailey revealed about his co-star in the movie, the prince who needs to be kissed with love to restore his voice.

Although most of the original songs remain intact (for the peace of mind of the fans), in the new production there are some new creations from Lin-Manuel Miranda (Charm). For example, Eric has the theme Wild unknown waters and that it’s a desperate appeal to Ariel, the woman he dimly remembers saved him from his shipwreck.

“Ariel has a new song called For the first time, that sings when it comes out on dry land and she’s discovering all these new things, and it all scares her, but at the same time it’s exciting and new. It’s a nice addition indeed it just might become my new favorite song, that one Part of your world”, Bailey continued.

Melissa McCarthy, the imposing and mean Ursula completes the cast.

“I was always a huge fan of hers because she is such a talented actress. Watching her transform into Ursula was shocking because she’s such a sweet, smiley person, and then you see her transform into this dark, twisted Ursula.Bailey said about the villain in the story. “Rehearse with her Poor unhappy soul It was something I will never forget because it was fun, but also scary. Ariel is nervous and trying to decide what to do and Melissa, as Ursula, does a great job convincing her with a kind of motherly love that she knows Ariel lacks in her life. So Ariel finds herself drawn to this reassuring love figure who promises her everything she ever wanted.”.

“Ariel is passionate and very wise. She is very mature for her age. She knows what she wants and I feel like I connect with her in so many ways. I don’t know if everyone is interested in zodiac signs, but I’m an Aries, a fire sign, and I feel like Ariel must be an Aries too, because she never gives up.”.