Under the sea! Halle Bailey completely transformed for her role as Ariel in the upcoming reimagining of Disney’s The Little Mermaid — and sometimes felt like she was actually part of the ocean world.“I had a ton of water scenes,” Bailey, 22, exclusively told Us Weekly on Monday, March 20. “Like, for the shipwrecks, they’d turn on the wave machines and turn on the rain and thunder and you literally felt like you were in the middle of the ocean. … Most exhilarating thing in my life.”The Grown-ish alum — who admitted that the process was “for sure” scary at times — previously opened up about the challenges of making the movie during a September 2022 Q&A on her YouTube channel. “I was in intense physical training for three months and then every single day I’d either be up in the air on wires, in a harness, or I’d be in the water all day,” she shared. “It’s the most in shape I’ve ever been in my life.
But that was the toughest part I think, having to be that strong.”Stepping into the role of the iconic mermaid also tested the Chloe x Halle musician’s emotional strength as her July 2019 casting announcement drew racist backlash from fans who felt that a white actress should portray the role.“I don’t really pay attention to the negativity,” the Grammy nominee told Us of the negative comments, adding that the public outcry was “not really surprising” to her as “a Black woman in America.” Although Bailey described the hateful reactions from trolls as “normal,” she also emphasized that representation in media has the power to change the status quo.“I’m so happy right now that other young Black women — especially Black and brown little babies — are gonna be able to see themselves on screen,” the Georgia native said. “Representation
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