Given how challenging the character Ariel is and how much genuineness and substance is required of the role, Disney needed to do an extensive search to find the perfect actress to fill the part.
The director of the live action, Rob Marshall, said that they were looking for someone who possesed “a rare combination of spirit, heart, youth, innocence and substance.” Black American actress, singer and songwriter Halle Bailey was chosen because she fit the criteria Disney was searching for perfectly.
Marshall revealed that he had first spotted Halle when she performed Where is the Love with her sister at the 2019 Grammy telecast and was captivated by her crystalline singing voice. He then invited her to audition for the role of Ariel.
She was made to perform one of the original songs from the 1989 Little Mermaid, Part of Your World and anyone who has ever heard the 22 year old star sing knows that it is impossible to not be hypnotized by her ethereal voice. Her audition was successful and she was casted into the film.
Despite the initial racist backlash and drama that went on online, the recently released teaser trailer for the movie has done nothing but prove that Halle Bailey was born to be Ariel.
