Who is Halle Bailey? The 411 on 'The Little Mermaid' star

If you, like us, were mesmerized by the first look of Halle Bailey as Ariel, singing the iconic ‘Part of Your World’ ballad when the teaser trailer dropped earlier this year—you might be after some more intel on the actress and singer already making a splash as The Little Mermaid. From her famous sister to her role in another well-known Disney project, here's everything we know about Halle...

Joining big names like Emma Watson and Lily James (who embodied the roles of Belle and Cinderella in Disney’s first wave of live-action remakes), Halle Bailey is set to star in Disney’s The Little Mermaid. And while some fans might think this is her breakthrough role, she’s actually got quite the career behind her already!

From earning Grammy nominations for her breathtaking vocals to starring in Disney’s Grown-ish, Halle Bailey was already going places—and after that Little Mermaid's first trailer, we reckon you need to get to know this rising star ASAP...

How old is Halle Bailey? 

Halle Bailey is 22—and for anyone interested in her zodiac sign, she is an Aries due to her birthday falling towards the end of March on March 27.

Halle has been on the scene for a few years now, making her first Oscars debut in 2022 and Met Gala debut alongside her sister Chloe, in 2021. We’d also like to add that the pair were among some of the best dressed at the 2021 Met Gala, fingers-crossed we see them ascend those iconic MET steps for 2023's Gala also!

What are Halle Bailey’s movies and TV shows?

Disney+ streamers might recognize the actress from Grown-ish, where she plays Sky Forster. She has also featured in movies like Last Holiday and Let It Shine.

Halle is now set to star in the film adaptation of The Color Purple—and of course, as Ariel in the live-action version of The Little Mermaid, which is set to be released in 2023.

Halle Bailey in 'The Little Mermaid': First Look

In case you missed Halle’s debut as Ariel, see the emosh moment yourself… 

How did Halle Bailey get the role of Ariel?

If you're wondering how Halle's journey as everyone's favorite green-tailed mermaid began, the film's director Rob Marshall, recounted to Variety that he first spotted Halle at the 2019 Grammy's—where Chloe x Halle performed 'Where Is the Love?'

He was instantly 'enraptured' by her voice and swiftly asked her to audition for the Disney film, by singing Ariel's iconic 'Part of Your World' ballad and the rest was history!

He said: "When she finished, I was in tears because she’s so soulful. You could tell right away that she was able to harness Ariel’s passion, her fire, her soul, her joy and her heart."

Speaking about the role herself and the importance of representation—as Halle is only the second black actress to portray a Disney princess, the other being Anika Noni Rose who plays Tiana in The Princess and the Frog—she said: "I want the little girl in me and the little girls just like me who are watching to know that they’re special and that they should be a princess in every single way. There’s no reason that they shouldn’t be. 

"That reassurance was something that I needed...what that would have done for me, how that would have changed my confidence, my belief in myself, everything." 

Who is Halle Bailey’s sister and what is their band called? 

Halle's famous sister is Chloe Bailey, 24. She features alongside her in Grown-ish, playing the role of Jazz Forster, who is one of the main character.

She has also starred in Ava DuVernay film A Wrinkle in Time, alongside huge stars like Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Chris Pine, Zach Galifianakis and Gugu Mbatha-Raw.

Alongside their acting careers, Halle and Chloe also make up the popular R&B duo ‘Chloe X Halle.’

Since forming their group in 2013, the pair have released three albums including ‘Ungoldly Hour’ which earned the duo three Grammy nominations.

 Who is Halle Bailey dating? 

While the likes of Maude Apatow's boyfriend and Shawn Mendes' girlfriend sitch continue to keep fans guessing, we do have some intel on who Halle Bailey is reporting dating...

DDG and Halle Bailey

Halle Bailey's boyfriend is reportedly rapper and YouTuber, DDG with rumors starting to swirl after the pair were spotted at an Usher concert in January.

Since then the pair have pretty much hard launched their relationship with Halle starring in his latest music video for 'if i want you' and posting it to her Instagram feed, to which DDG replied with a string of heart emojis. 

Most recently they also attended the Avatar 2 premiere together, posing hand in hand together, as well as Milan Fashion Week together and the after-party for the Los Angeles Premiere of Creed III on February 27, 2023.

Halle Bailey's Instagram

You can follow Halle at @hallebailey where you can keep up with all her latest red carpets, music releases and ofc Little Mermaid updates.

Hopefully a full trailer will be on the way soon!

Halle Bailey's public appearances

Halle Bailey at the D23 Expo

Of course, Halle was at the D23 Expo, where the first teaser—featuring her as Ariel along with her angel-like singing voice, was released.

She stunned in a strapless, tangerine-colored satin dress, which we like to think is a callback to animated Ariel's hair.

Halle Bailey's Met Gala 2021 appearance

Making her first Met Gala debut, Halle arrived with her sister wearing a pink, shimmery playsuit.

Halle Bailey at the Oscar's 2022

On what happened to be the very same day as her birthday, Halle attended the 2022 Oscars in a dreamy teal gown, to present the award for 'Best Animated Feature Film' —alongside her fellow live-action Disney Princesses Lily James (Cinderella) and Naomi Scott (Jasmine).