Diving In

It's Halle Bailey's world - we just live in it. The star of The Little Mermaid talks to Us about breaking down barriers and why the future's looking bright

- JAIME HARKIN

As superstardom beckons, Bailey knows more change is on the way. And she’s ready for it. “Halle finished filming The Little Mermaid nearly two years ago, so it’s been a very long wait,” says an insider. “She put her heart and soul into her performance, and she’s just so excited for people to finally see it.” As Disney’s first Black live-action princess, there’s a lot riding on Bailey’s shoulders. “The expectations are high, and there’s a lot of pressure,” adds the insider, “but Halle is handling it all in stride.”

MAKING IT BIG

Bailey knows a thing or two about the fame game. She began acting as a toddler, and at 11, she and her older sister Chloe, now 24, started sharing music on YouTube as the group Chloe x Halle. After winning Radio Disney’s The Next Big Thing, they later caught the eye of Beyoncé, who signed them to her Parkwood Entertainment label. Chloe x Halle went on to release two studio albums and scored four Grammy nominations.

Landing The Little Mermaid was a dream come true. (Director Rob Marshall has said the Georgia native was the first of hundreds to audition and that she “set the bar so high” no one else came close.) “Halle was obsessed with the movie when she was a kid. She didn’t hesitate to take on the role,” shares the insider. “She knows it’s a huge honor.”