Summary
- Halle Bailey’s Connection to Water: Halle Bailey shares her love for vacations by the water.
- Traveling like Ariel: Insights into how Ariel would pack for her adventures.
- Managing Allergies on the Go: Bailey prioritizes her health while traveling.
- Representation in Film: The significance of Bailey’s portrayal of Ariel and its impact.
Bailey’s adaptation of the iconic mermaid can be seen in theaters everywhere on Friday.
It’s no surprise that when Halle Bailey goes on vacation, she wants to be where the water is. “A beach, a waterfall, a refreshing river,” the singer, who is taking on the iconic role of Ariel in the live-action reboot of the 1989 animated Disney classic “The Little Mermaid,” revealed. “I just spent my birthday in Jamaica and swam in Dunn’s River Falls for the first time. That was beautiful.”
Bailey seems to subtly identify with her character in multiple ways — she too has dreams of big adventures, and all she needs is a plan. “I am a go-with-the-flow person,” she expressed, adding that she hopes her next trip brings her to Africa. “I need to become a better planner.”
As the one responsible for bringing everyone’s favorite mermaid to life on the big screen, Bailey also shared her thoughts on what traveling with Ariel would actually be like. Spoiler alert: She’d be an overpacker.
“She would bring along all the treasures she collects. She would not need too much clothes and shoes, so her luggage [would] have a bunch of artifacts that heightens her curiosity about the world above the sea,” Bailey mused. “I think she would bring along Sebastian, Scuttle, and Flounder, of course.”
And if she’s anything like Bailey in real life, she’d also bring her allergy medicine. Whether she’s traveling or at home, the star makes sure her health is a top priority, especially as someone who deals with allergies. Bailey recently partnered with allergy medication brand Zyrtec to help her fans see that this time of year doesn’t have to be all that bad.
“I get a scratchy throat and stuffy nose — especially now that it’s spring — and Zyrtec has always been my go-to because it works fast and provides a full 24 hours of relief,” she said. “As a singer especially, I need to keep my allergies in check to help my voice, so I always carry around Zyrtec in my bag for those days I feel my symptoms coming on, which is a lot lately!”
Bailey noted that she really tries to listen to her body, and, despite her busy schedule, she rests as much as she can. Resting her voice is particularly important — it helped her secure her role as Ariel, after all.
“I am grateful to [director] Rob Marshall who saw me during a Grammy performance and immediately thought I could be Ariel,” she reflected. “He did not want to change my hair so I am playing Ariel with my locs. I know that means so many little girls and boys will see themselves in this film and it makes me so happy. I truly believe the film does a great job at showing representation in a matter-of-fact way, and that is significant.”
She added, “I have loved ‘The Little Mermaid’ since I was a little girl and pretended to be Ariel every time I went swimming with my sister in our pool in Atlanta. It’s a full-circle moment.”
