Halle Bailey was the first to audition for the beloved and coveted role of Ariel in Disney's live-action “The Little Mermaid.” After Bailey belted out the classic showstopper “Part of Your World” from the original 1989 film, director Rob Marshall and the other filmmakers knew that she was the one for the role.
How much did Halle Bailey get paid for Little mermaid?
According to Showbiz Galore, she was reportedly paid $1.5 million to don the tail and seashells, though some news outlets reported slightly more modest earnings of $500,000. Despite the online backlash about casting a Black Ariel, this project made Halle Bailey a household name, especially among young Disney fans.
Is Halle Bailey really singing in The Little Mermaid?
So far, Halle Bailey has received glowing reviews for her portrayal of Ariel with audiences impressed by her amazing voice singing the classic “A Part of Your World.” “This song has meant so much to so many of us for so long,” Bailey explained to KTLA 5's Sam Rubin on Monday.
Halle Bailey's Journey to Becoming Ariel in "The Little Mermaid" | Glamour
Are Chloe and Halle Bailey twins?
Chloe x Halle (pronounced "Chloe and Halle") are an American duo composed of sisters Chloe and Halle Bailey. At a young age, the sisters performed in minor acting roles before moving from their hometown of Mableton, Georgia to Los Angeles in 2012.
Bailey resides in North Hollywood, Los Angeles with her sister. She and her sister are both vegans. Bailey has been in a relationship with DDG, a YouTuber and American rapper, since December 2021 and appears in his videos on occasion. On January 6, 2024, Bailey announced the birth of the couple's firstborn son.
The film, which was released in the UK on Friday 26 May, sees Halle take on the titular character of Ariel, a mermaid who's one wish is to see what's beyond the sea. While Halle keeps Ariel's signature red hair for the film, she decided to keep her natural locs for the role but dyed them a copper colour instead.
The Little Mermaid Used CGI To Film Its Underwater Scenes
To achieve a similar effect in the live-action remake, the production used CGI to film its underwater scenes and portray The Little Mermaid's sea life. Sebastian, Scuttle, and Flounder were all created using computer effects.
Halle Lynn Bailey (born March 27, 2000) is an American singer and actress. She is best known for portraying Ariel in the 2023 live-action film The Little Mermaid.
Will Halle Bailey have locs in The Little Mermaid?
She is the first Disney princess to have locs. Halle Bailey's trademark locs are on full display in "The Little Mermaid," just the way she wanted them to be.
He says they were looking for the best actor for the role of any ethnicity who could not only sing but convey traits such as strength, passion, beauty, joy and intelligence, which they found in Bailey.
Director Rob Marshall had auditioned the crème de la crème of young Hollywood for the role, and even Zendaya was rumored to have read for the part. But it was movie newcomer Bailey who won the coveted lead.
Upon the casting of singer and actress Halle Bailey in the role of Ariel, Disney was branded as pushing its diversity and inclusion efforts, walking that thin line of political correctness. Bailey, a Black actress, takes on the role of the singing mermaid made famous by Jodi Benson.
Speaking to Glamour magazine, she said: “[Ariel still] has red hair, because that's a very iconic part of her, but I really did admire the fact that because I'm a Black woman and I have locs, [the producers] wanted to incorporate that into Ariel's look.”
Obviously, modifications are required anytime you adapt animation to live-action, but Bailey and the beauty department had to reimagine Ariel as a woman of color too. Bailey and the team opted to keep her hair red—that was essential—but opted for copper locs to make it her own.
The physical transformation of Halle did take some time, effort, and money to help her become the character of Ariel. According to Variety, Halle Bailey wished to stay true to her Black heritage and show her natural hair in the movie. So, hair extensions were used rather than a wig.
Jodi Benson was the voice of Ariel in Disney's animated 1989 “Little Mermaid” classic. Starting in 2019, when Halle Bailey was cast in the live-action version, Benson has been nothing but supportive of the 23-year-old being “part of her world.”
Bailey and her older sister, Chloe Bailey, initially got noticed from the music covers they would post on YouTube as teenagers. But things changed once Beyoncé discovered them and signed the sister R&B duo Chloe x Halle to her label in 2015.
In 2015 Beyoncé signed Chloe x Halle to a five-year contract with her music label, Parkwood Entertainment, effectively making them her musical protégées.
As of May 2023, Halle Bailey's net worth is estimated to be $3 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Their impressive earnings can be attributed to their musical achievements and acting roles.
