Why Halle Bailey "Sobbed" While Watching Herself in The Little Mermaid

We're so ready for this to be part of our world.

Halle Bailey's starring role in Disney's upcoming live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid is going to make her a certified superstar. And that's a lot of pressure for a 22-year-old to handle.

"I've seen a rough cut, and I was just sobbing the whole time," she told E! News' Francesca Amiker at the 2023 Kids' Choice Awards. "It's just very weird to watch myself. I've never seen myself that way and I just get really emotional just thinking about it."

And she hopes the cast—including Daveed Diggs, Jacob Tremblay, Awkwafina, Jonah Hauer-King, Javier Bardem and Melissa McCarthy—will have you feeling the same type of way.

"I am ready for everyone to finally see this film, for it to finally be out," Halle admitted. "We have worked on it for a long time, we've been talking about it for a long time, but now we're finally going to see it and I'm just grateful."

In addition to taking on Alan Menken's original music and Lin-Manuel Miranda's updated tracks for Little Mermaid, Halle will also be lending her voice to this year's The Color Purple, based on the 2005 musical (as opposed to the 1985 film, which itself was based on the 1982 novel).

"Music is my first love, but what I love about [The Little Mermaid] is that I got to incorporate both singing and acting and it's really opened up something in me," she shared. "Then for The Color Purple, I'm singing in it as well and it just makes me really happy to be a part of and to do both of the things I love."

But she's not just happy with her work, as Halle also explained how she stays so positive in real life.

"I don't look at the comments, I don't pay attention to trolls and negativity," she revealed. "I'm happy and at the end of the day, I'm blessed."

Follow Halle under the sea when The Little Mermaid swims into theaters May 26.