Exploring the aftermath of casting Halle Bailey in “Little Mermaid”: Addressing racist trolls and praising the Bailey sisters.

In the highly anticipated live-action remake of Disney’s classic, The Little Mermaid, Halle Bailey takes on the iconic role of Ariel. Bailey, a multi-hyphenate talent, faces with courage the challenges of portraying a beloved character, a technically intense shoot, and a protective fan base. Moreover, the added pressure of racist abuse that followed her casting failed to shake the young actress’ readiness to take on the role of Ariel. Bailey admits that from the onset of the project, she was anxious, as she had never done anything away from her sister before. However, her performance ultimately won over director Rob Marshall, who was moved to tears during her audition, a testament to just how compelling she was.

The new adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen tale, which endeavours to be both contemporary and even more heartfelt than its predecessor, requires that Bailey delivers compelling performances that add dimensions to Ariel – whose motivations go beyond her infatuation with the handsome Prince Eric. Bailey’s portrayal of Ariel captures the princess’s willfulness, which stems from her deep curiosity about the world on land and her hunger to see it for herself. Bailey, who is also an athlete and former athlete, had to manoeuvre various obstacles on set, simulating swimming motions while suspended in harnesses and tuning fork rigs, and performing many of her underwater scenes in a water tank that simulated a storm.

Portraying Ariel, who at one point had to exchange her enchanting voice with the nefarious sea-witch, Ursula, also required the young actress to rely on her emotive skills and body language to act without replaces. Throughout her performance, Bailey’s nuanced approach to acting is evident in her portrayal of Ariel’s emotions, with the actress admitting that she felt “stupid as hell” when acted while having to convey her emotions to imaginary characters in certain scenes.

Bailey sympathizes with Ariel’s character, stating that she has gone through similar struggles, “feeling uncertain about the future, knowing when you want something great for yourself and what lengths you will go to get it.”

Bailey’s casting as Ariel caused some controversy, but she continued to focus on the positive response (mostly) from critics and fans. Despite the racist trolls who took to social media to voice their displeasure, Bailey chose to appreciate the opportunity to change people’s perspectives. “If I would have seen a Black mermaid when I was younger, it would have changed my whole life. My whole perspective on how I feel about myself, my self-worth, my confidence, everything,” she said.

Surprisingly, Bailey acknowledges that her portrayal of Ariel in The Little Mermaid taught her to find her voice in ways she never experienced before. Through her performance, Bailey discovered her confidence and self-worth, which allowed her to seek new opportunities, including writing her solo album and filming scenes for Warner Bros. ‘Colour Purple.’

In conclusion, Halle Bailey’s performance in The Little Mermaid isn’t just a triumph of acting and singing; it’s a journey of self-discovery, growth, and learning to find her voice. Her portrayal of Ariel captures the emotional depth of the character and adds dimension to the role. The obstacles that she overcame during the physically and emotionally demanding shoot transformed her into a more confident and assured artist. Bailey’s performance in The Little Mermaid is a testament to her abilities as a young actress, and it signals the start of a promising Hollywood career.