Who else auditioned for Ursula?

Lizzo showcased her audition for The Little Mermaid's Ursula in a since-privated viral video. She didn't get the part, but she "was down to make Ursula a THOT, shaking ass." The role went to Melissa McCarthy, whom Lizzo met during a taping of Adele's "One Night Only" concert.
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Who was considered for Ursula?

The Ursula we know (and fear) was almost not. Disney worked through several versions of “The Little Mermaid's” antagonist, from trying to cast Bea Arthur, Joan Collins and Broadway star Elaine Stritch to voice the villain to considering her form to a shark.
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Who auditioned for Ursula 2023?

Singer Lizzo auditioned and campaigned for the role of Ursula. She even dressed like Ursula and sang "Poor Unfortunate Souls" on her Instagram page, but ultimately Melissa McCarthy got the role. Later, Lizzo and McCarthy met at an event and they discussed the audition.
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Who plays human version of Ursula?

In The Little Mermaid remake, Jessica Alexander plays Ursula's human form Vanessa who may look innocent on the outside, but she also seems a little peculiar. Jessica Alexander is an English actress and model who first gained recognition for her role in BBC series Get Even.
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Did Zendaya audition for The Little Mermaid?

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.
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ARIEL'S SURPRISE TWIN WITH DISNEY CHARACTERS ELSA, ANNA, BELLE, MALEFICENT AND URSULA. 2019

Who auditioned for Ariel?

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.
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Why did Disney choose Halle to be Ariel?

"When I chose Halle for the role, it was literally because she was the best person for the role," Marshall says. "It's about who claims a role, who brings a role to life in a way you could never have imagined."
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Is Jessica Alexander LGBTQ?

Alexander is openly bisexual. She is an advocate for the LGBT community and has been referred to as a queer icon. She uses her Instagram to spread awareness about LGBT-related issues.
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Who will play Vanessa in The Little Mermaid 2023?

Jessica Alexander as Vanessa, Ursula's human alter ego, which she uses to sabotage her deal with Ariel. Alexander was announced to have been cast on March 1, 2021. She described her character as "a seductress, a temptress, the definition of a femme fatale and a sexy female villain."
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Who will play Vanessa in Little mermaid?

The Little Mermaid (2023) - Jessica Alexander as Vanessa - IMDb.
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Did Lizzo audition for Ursula?

Lizzo Reflects on Her 'Terrible' Audition for 'The Little Mermaid' Remake: 'I Was Down to Make Ursula a THOT' "The singing was great. I'll just say that," the singer shared of going for the role.
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Does Vanessa use Ariel's voice?

Only during the cocktail party on the balcony, do we actually hear Vanessa's own voice, unconvincingly declaring that she doesn't consider herself "a hero" for rescuing Eric. Mostly, her mouth is filled with either Ariel's singing or Ursula's monologuing, yet Vanessa still feels like she has a life of her own.
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Is Vanessa supposed to look like Ariel?

She is a slim woman with an hourglass figure, and in many respects resembles Ariel (it is believed that this was deliberate, to fit in with Eric's hazy recollections of the woman on the beach). Vanessa and Ariel wear their hair in the same style, have nearly identical facial structures, and comparable body types.
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Why was Melissa McCarthy cast as Ursula?

The Little Mermaid director Rob Marshall has explained the reasons behind Melissa McCarthy's casting as Ursula in upcoming live action remake. Speaking to SFX magazine, Marshall revealed that the actress' background in drag performance had been a significant part in her landing the role.
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Why did they cast Melissa McCarthy as Ursula?

With Ursula's original design inspired by the famous drag queen Divine, McCarthy's experience as a drag queen provides the actor with another key qualifier for the role.
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How did Melissa McCarthy get the role of Ursula?

The actress was especially drawn to the role of Ursula the sea witch. "I loved her so much. She's such a broad, I just wanted to have a drink with her," McCarthy says. "And yes, she's the villain, but I was like, I think I get her.
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How much did Halle Bailey get paid for The Little Mermaid?

It's believed that Bailey made about $1.5 million for her role as Ariel in The Little Mermaid, but that number could increase depending on how well the film performs opening weekend and beyond.
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Why didn t Melissa McCarthy play Vanessa?

While a crucial role in the film's plot, Marshall explained why they chose to go with a relatively unknown actor. "I really didn't want to do too many stunt [castings]," he said. "We already had Melissa McCarthy playing Ursula, so to have another well-known person playing her as Vanessa just felt weird."
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Is Queen Latifah in The New Little Mermaid?

(MORE: 'Little Mermaid Live': Who will play Ariel, Ursula, Sebastian and more!) Queen Latifah stars alongside actress Auli'i Cravalho who will play Ariel and reggae singer Shaggy who will play Ariel's friend, Sebastian.
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When was Jessica Alexander born?

Born on June 19, 1999 in Westminster, London, England, Jessica Alexander is an English actress. Alexander began auditioning for films at the age of 14 and made her acting debut in "Necktie" (2013).
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What is Jessica Alexander in?

Jessica Alexander was born on June 19, 1999. She is an actress, known for A Banquet (2021), Get Even (2020) and The Little Mermaid (2023).
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Why is the new Ariel black?

On the significance of casting a Black actress as Ariel

Sherri Hope Culver: To have a Disney character who is not just a princess but a live-action, real flesh and blood person that children can be inspired by is important. This is because people of color are less likely to see themselves reflected in the media.
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Who was originally cast as Ariel?

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.”
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Who was originally supposed to play Ariel?

The film's director Rob Marshall has shared Bailey was the perfect choice due to her “rare combination of spirit, heart, youth, innocence” (via D23) – a sentiment echoed by original Ariel actor Jodi Benson.
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