INTERVIEW
WE MET HALLE BAILEY & JONAH HAUER-KING FROM DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID
By Jazmin Duribe, 24 May 2023
Picture: Getty Images
Jonah and Halle at the UK premiere of Disney's The Little Mermaid
Hi Halle and Jonah! We’re SO excited about this movie. How did you both feel when you found out you’d been cast as Ariel and Prince Eric?
Jonah: I felt very happy for a split second, and then terrified. I was really relieved because it was a long audition process for both of us.
Halle: Same exact feeling! Excitement, screaming, jumping for joy… but then it dawned on me – [gasps] I’m going to have to be everyone's new Ariel and everyone's opinions and eyes are gonna be on me. But overall, just so much joy 💙
We can only imagine! Now Halle, as a young Black woman, you've been praised for breaking barriers in this role. How does this make you feel?
H: Grateful, honoured and proud to be a Black woman in this position. Proud to represent for all the babies and children and adults even that need to see themselves in roles like these. I know it would've changed my life if I got to see a Black mermaid when I was younger.
Picture: Getty Images
Picture: Getty Images
On the blue carpet at the premiere in Sydney, Australia
J: I try to be! I think a bit of healthy rebellion is good – challenging the status quo and challenging the system. That’s what I really like about him in this film, he’s not just your traditional archetype prince, he’s restless, he wants more, he's adventurous, and he's an explorer... I love that about him and I aspire to be like that as well.
Nice. What message do you hope people will take away from the film?
J: I think there’s a few. It’s partly a story about worlds coming together and not fearing the 'other'. It's about looking at the ways that we’re similar and the ways we should be coming together and being harmonious, but also celebrating our differences and accepting that we’re not all the same and that’s good. We should celebrate that and not shy away from it.
H: I resonated with Ariel’s ability to know what she wants for herself, her future and her dreams, and go after what she wants no matter how many sacrifices it took. She went through a lot to get her heart's desires and that was really inspiring for me.
Now we're dying to know: what's your fave look from The Little Mermaid press tour?!
J: Well I LOVED the look you wore to the world premiere, Halle! But I wore a Dior suit that I really liked – it was classic tailoring with a little bit of edge.
H: That was really nice! I’ve seen what Jonah’s wearing tonight [to the UK premiere] and that'll be my favourite – he looks so cool.
