THE LITTLE MERMAID Star Halle Bailey for V Magazine

Pin

Singer and actress Halle Bailey stars as Ariel in Rob Marshall’s live-action remake of THE LITTLE MERMAID. Ahead of the film’s release, V MAGAZINE captured the star on the rise with photographer Rob Rusling in an underwater-themed shoot that fused AI technology with photography, as Bailey donned this season’s best couture looks with Bulgari’s latest high-jewelry collections throughout the cover story. V’s Digital Director Mathias Rosenzweig spoke to Bailey about the message of the movie and how her identity from musician to feature film movie star took shape. This idea of embracing change and living as who you really are took hold of Bailey, bridging her and Ariel in ways that made for a life-changing performance.

Pin

Pin

“I was homeschooled and performed around the world all my life, so that was all I knew. I was always surrounded by people to hold me, to carry me, my sister [Chloe Bailey] in particular. So, without that, I felt stripped bare and I had to find that strength within myself. But, I believed in myself and that there was something greater for me— something greater on the other side of fear and the unknown.”

“I think the message of this film is universal and there are so many lessons to be learned. The main thing I took away from the filming process was allowing myself the power to go after what I want and not be afraid to do so.”

“Melissa McCarthy came to join me on set and it was so cool to witness her work. I just remember looking at her and being like, ‘You can do that, too!’”

“I found that a lot of my time in London was that I was feeling the exact way Ariel was feeling in the beginning of the story. It was my first time away from home, I grew up in a very big family. I lived in my parents’ home up until two years ago, and so I grew up always having people around, especially my siblings to guide me. My sister Chloe, who’s like a second mom to me, has always been there in my personal life and my career, holding my hand and guiding me through every step of life. So this was the first project that I did by myself.“ 

V Magazine Issue #142 is available to pre-order on shop.vmagazine.com and available on global newsstands beginning May 4^th

[Photo Credit: Rob Rusling/Courtesy of V Magazine]

• Editorials
• Halle Bailey
• Magazines
• Rob Rusling
• V Magazine