Disney's The Little Mermaid LIVE ACTION

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From BroadwayWorld:

VIDEO: Melissa McCarthy Teases Her Upcoming Role As Ursula in THE LITTLE MERMAID
The cast of the live action "Little Mermaid" also includes Halle Bailey, Daveed Diggs, Javier Bardem, Jacob Tremblay, Awkwafina, and Jonah Hauer-King.

by Stage Tube Mar. 29, 2021

Melissa McCarthy, Octavia Spencer and Ben Falcone sat down for a SiriusXM Town Hall special hosted by SiriusXM's Jess Cagle, to promote their upcoming Netflix movie Thunder Force.

Melissa McCarthy also giving listeners an update on The Little Mermaid in which she will play Ursula.

Watch the full clip below!

"I mean it's just, I still kind of can't believe it's happening. Like I've already recorded , you know, I did all my rehearsals in London. I'm going back in about a month to actually get to do the scenes that we rehearsed. It's like, you know, it just never in my life did I think I'd have a 60-foot clamshell and like a couple numbers in a movie, like it's incredible. I'm really excited about it," McCarthy said.

SiriusXM's Town Hall with the cast and director of Thunder Force will air on SiriusXM Stars on Wednesday, March 31 at 3:00 pm ET and will be available on the SiriusXM app.

The cast of the live action "Little Mermaid" also includes Halle Bailey, Daveed Diggs, Javier Bardem, Jacob Tremblay, Awkwafina, and Jonah Hauer-King.

Noma Dumezweni ("Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" on Broadway), Jessica Alexander, Russell Balogh, Adrian Christopher, and Emily Coates will also star. Their roles are currently undisclosed.

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Anika Noni Rose Talks Princess Tiana and Halle Bailey Starring As ‘The Little Mermaid’

We had the opportunity to talk to Anika Noni Rose about starring in the upcoming Amazon thriller series ‘THEM’. She also spoke on ‘Princess and The Frog’ and Halle Bailey playing ‘The Little Mermaid’.

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From ETCanada:

Melissa McCarthy Teases Her Role As Ursula In Live-Action 'The Little Mermaid'

Melissa McCarthy is already under the spell of her upcoming Disney musical as she gets ready to play Ursula in the live-action version of "The Little Mermaid", telling SiriusXM's Jess Cagle all about playing the iconic villain. Plus, more movie news including Russell Crowe's upcoming cameo in "Thor: Love and Thunder".

Video

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From Marie Claire:

Noma Dumezweni Is Hollywood's Newest It Girl
The powerhouse actress has built an enviable resumé—but she's still getting used to her own success.

By Neha Prakash
Mar 29, 2021

“What the f***?” is perhaps Noma Dumezweni’s most used phrase, and fittingly so, since the British actress considers the expression the best description of her life’s journey thus far. At 51, she’s one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actresses, following a rare successful crossover from theater to film and television. “The universe seems to be delivering really lovely surprises, which I am really grateful for but I would never [have] put in my narrative,” she says, lounging on a mustard-yellow sofa in her sunlit Manhattan apartment. She’s as warm and unexpected as her surroundings, even as she spills coffee—a stark departure from her cool, calm, and collected demeanor as Haley Fitzgerald in last year’s standout The Undoing. The role cemented her boldfaced-name status and was a natural entrée to her next project, Made for Love. In the HBO Max dark comedy, premiering April 1, Dumezweni plays Fiffany, a marine biologist with a unique affinity for the subjects she studies. Here, she speaks candidly about conquering impostor syndrome, her love-hate relationship with social media, and why she’s glad she found success later in life.

Marie Claire: Made for Love is a doozy—terrifying and claustrophobic—right off the bat. What drew you to the project?

Noma Dumezweni: I remember reading the script and going, “What the f*** is going on?” Already, my interest [is] piqued. And my character’s called Fiffany, which always makes me laugh.

MC: You wonder, “Is this going to be Black Mirror? Are we in Westworld?” And then it’s really funny.

ND: I remember, years after it had come out, finally watching Breaking Bad. In that very first episode, I’m literally going, “I had no idea.” I love that feeling ... It’s that kind of kinetic energy of storytelling. We have to be ahead of the audience.

MC: The Undoing is a perfect example of the audience being hooked. Are you a person who watches what the Internet is saying?

ND: I am. And there are days I really wanna throw my phone out the ******* window and let it crash ... When The Undoing was coming out in October [2020], I gave myself the month of August off. And I actually just shut down my Instagram and my Twitter, and I literally just went and disappeared.

MC: Made for Love is so much about being forced to be plugged in—not having control and agency of it.

ND: I just know that every human being needs to connect. That’s where this story moves forward from. Who do you connect with and how do you connect with them?

MC: I was surprised to read that, despite your character [in The Undoing] seeming so together, you were very nervous on set.

ND: I was scared ... I genuinely thought I was gonna be fired... There was one particular day I came back crying ’cause I’d gotten myself into such a twist that I wasn’t good enough. It’s that awful voice that comes in, going, “You don’t know what you’re doing. I’m too loud. I’m not small enough.” Later, I watched that scene and . If there’s anything I could offer anybody: Stop making excuses. I was the one who was making excuses why I shouldn’t be there.

MC: Did anyone on set give you advice that helped you push past that feeling?

ND: I do remember having lovely conversations with Hugh [Grant] about it. He was going, “It never gets easier.” I was like, “What? Even for you?” He said, “I’ve even spoken to Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks about this.”

MC: There was a lot of racist discourse when you were cast as Hermione in 2016’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Since, as you said, you tend to be checked into what people are saying, how did that affect you?

ND: When I started seeing [the racist comments], I was like, “I’m not gonna engage in this.” But I also knew that the producers had my back and J.K. [Rowling] had my back.

MC: Did it affect the roles you considered later on?

ND: No. If anything, I was getting cynical about people’s motives [when casting me now] … because I realized, Oh, it’s not about me; it’s about the optics of me. Especially as a Black person, I’m so very aware.

MC: Was there a time when you were younger that you were ready to throw in the towel?

ND: I think it was about 28 or 29. That was a year I spent in bed. I was like, “There’s no room for me in this business.” Twenty years ago, it was, “Well, there’s already that Black actress who’s in that. They’re not gonna get another one of those.”

MC: Do you wonder, if you’d found this level of success in your 20s, whether you would have been able to react to the negativity with the same strength and poise?

ND: Because I’ve had my pain, in terms of who I am, what I am in my late 20s/early 30s, everything’s a bonus right now. Let’s take those risks. If I am a poster child for people taking risks and it paying off, I am really happy to be part of that.

If I am a poster child for people taking risks and it paying off, I am really happy to be part of that.

MC: I have to ask you about being cast in the live-action Little Mermaid film. What can you tell me about your role?

ND: [grinning] I can tell you that I’m doing it. I can tell you I’m very excited. I can tell you I had a chat with hair and makeup the other day and it was like, “Yay!”

MC: With all the parts you’ve played, the women are really strong and really smart. Has that been an intention of yours?

ND: There’s a thing about meeting the character you need to meet at the right moment for you. What do I fulfill? What’s gonna challenge me? That’s what I’m interested in. I do also know that with Hermione [in Cursed Child], she’s also a mom. That was a huge thing for me. This girl, who was the brightest witch of her generation, the greatest witch of her generation, gets to be a mom as well. And she’s the Minister of Magic. I think I’m lucky enough to have felt that [the parts have] always been interesting humans, interesting women, and there’s still a part of me going, "There’s still more I can do."

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Italian article from La Nuova Sardegna:

La Sirenetta della Disney a Santa Teresa, spot planetario a costo zero

L'assessore Scolafurru: «Il turismo riparte da qui. Settecento persone della produzione nei nostri hotel e ristoranti più una visibilità mondiale»
di Gianluca Fois 01 Aprile 2021

SANTA TERESA. Santa Teresa riparte dal cinema. A breve inizieranno le riprese del film della Disney "La Sirenetta". Una notiza strepitosa in tempi di incertezza turistica legata al Covid. I primi ciak partiranno a breve e e termineranno a luglio.

Da qualche tempo la produzione ha avviato il lavoro sul territorio studiando location e organizzando la logistica. Entusiasta l'assessore al Turismo, Fabrizio Scolafurru. «La ricaduta diretta sul territorio vale settecento persone della produzione per tre mesi. Inoltre bisogna considerare l'indotto. E lo spot mondiale della bellezza del nostro territorio per il quale il Comune non spenderà un euro. La produzione non ci ha chiesto nulla, solo collaborazione a livello burocratico. Siamo pronti»....

Il servizio completo sul giornale in edicola e nella versione digitale

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From Yr Media:

21 for 21: Celebrating Halle Bailey’s Milestone Year
by Kailyn Rhone
Tallahassee, FL

Singer-actress Halle Bailey is legal-legal; she recently celebrated her 21st birthday.

To further celebrate her milestone, let’s highlight 21 things about Disney’s soon-to-be Ariel you may or may not have known.

Born in Atlanta yet raised in Los Angeles

Roughly around late 2012, Halle and her family moved from Atlanta to Los Angeles during her early teenage years. The decision to move out west was because her parents believed it was better for the now-famous duo (Chloe x Halle) career as it was just starting off. In an interview with Time Magazine, Halle said her family immediately fell in love with Los Angeles’s sparkling sun, remarking that the consistent supply of Vitamin D makes you a more joyful person.

Halle is the youngest of three sisters. Yes, three.

As many may know, Chloe and Halle aren’t twins, as portrayed on Freeform’s “Grown-ish.” Chloe is two years older than Halle, and both share an older sister, Ski, who also sings but stays out of the spotlight. They also have a younger brother, Branson, who was born in 2005.

Halle learned to sing by writing songs

Halle shared in an interview that when she was 8 years old, she and her sister wrote their own songs, which allowed them to learn their vocal ranges and tone. They also learned how to play different instruments from watching YouTube videos and tutorials online.

Halle and her sister Chloe began by doing music covers on YouTube

Chloe x Halle established their singing career at the age of 11 and 8 by posting covers to pop songs on YouTube. The dynamic duo’s cover of Beyoncé’s song “Pretty Hurts,” with over 20 million views to date, went viral five years later. They’ve been unstoppable ever since.

Halle plays the guitar

Speaking of playing instruments, Halle plays the guitar in several of the duo’s YouTube covers. She also produces the guitar instrumentals for their EPs and debut albums.

Halle’s father is ‘tone-deaf?’

As Halle’s parents are very supportive of their children’s career, she jokes that her father is “tone-deaf” when it comes to music. However, the father has helped his daughters write their lyrics from time to time, according to TheTalko.

Halle’s first film was alongside Queen Latifah

Although Halle has appeared as a choir member in “Let It Shine” and “Joyful Noise,” her first film was the 2007 rom-com, “Last Holiday” that starred Queen Latifah.

The singing sisters were Season 5 NBT Winners at Radio Disney

In 2012, Chloe x Halle were declared the winners of season 5’s Radio Disney’s N.B.T (Next BIG Thing). This competition was to spotlight young recording artists with a chance to broadcast their music across the nation and on online platforms.

Halle guest starred on the popular Disney show ‘Austin & Ally’

Being the winner of Radio’s Disney’s N.B.T has its perks. Halle was featured on Disney Channel’s “Austin & Ally,” accompanied by her sister Chloe, performing the song “Unstoppable” on season 2 on the show.

Signed to Parkwood Entertainment and became protegés of Beyoncé

Beyoncé, discovering their cover of her song, wanted to sign the sister duo to her record label. After the label sent an email two weeks after the trending cover was posted, their father talked with Parkwood Entertainment on January 2, 2014.

Halle made a cameo in Beyoncé’s ‘Lemonade’ Visual Album

Chloe x Halle were featured in the “Lemonade” presentation that inspired “Black Girl Magic” throughout the musical production. The duo told Revolt how much they fangirled and cried watching their mentor in action and her vision come to life.

Halle x Chloe performed at the 2019 Grammy Awards

Taking off tremendously since the record label signing, Chloe x Halle performed at the 2019 Grammy Awards performing “Where Is The Love,” stunning the audience with their outstanding harmonies.

No. 17 on Rolling Stone magazine’s Best R&B Albums of 2017

With the release of the recording artists’ first mixtape, “The Two of Us,” Rolling Stone scored it as number 17 to their top 20 R&B albums of 2017. Ironically, Halle was in a mermaid tail on the mixtape’s cover, foreshadowing what the future had in store for her.

Halle stars as Sky on ‘Grown-ish’

Playing one of the track star twins to her real life sister Chloe, Halle has been starring on Freeform’s show “Grown-ish” since 2018. Originally signing for recurring roles, they were later on added to be series regulars and created the theme song for the series called “Grown.” Ironic, right?

Chloe x Halle released their debut album

On March 23, 2018, the sisterly duo released their debut album, “The Kids Are Alright,” which was written and executive produced entirely by them.

Opening Act for Beyoncé’s “On the Run II” Tour

Alongside DJ Khaled, Chloe x Halle were the opening act for Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s tour announced in 2018. They also performed as the opening act in Beyoncé’s “Formation World Tour in 2016.”

Opened for Michelle Obama’s SXSW keynote

Former First Lady Michelle Obama discovered the sisters through her daughters and has worked with them ever since for her charity “This Is For My Girls.” The duo performed live for FLOTUS as the first opening act to the SXSW keynote, which led them to perform at Barack Obama‘s White House during Halle’s Sweet 16 weekend. Beyoncé and daughter Blue ivy made a surprise visit.

Halle she graduated from high school while doing all of this

As her sister, Chloe Bailey, decided to earn her GED, Halle chose to graduate from a regular, smegular high school in June 2018. Her sister, along with many others, celebrated this victorious moment via their at-the-time shared Twitter. Halle graduated while doing standard high school stuff like releasing two EPs, creating their Grammy-nominated debut album, performing as the opening act on two on world tours, and starring on a popular TV show.

watch out world she’s grown nowwww 🎓🌻 pic.twitter.com/cmUA96zAmB
— chloe x halle (@chloexhalle) June 7, 2018

Chloe x Halle opened at 2019’s Super Bowl LIII

As if the famous duo would stop there, they later performed at the 2019’s Super Bowl LIII, singing “America the Beautiful” during the kickoff. This was viewed by more than 98 million people, in addition to the thousands of fans in attendance.

The 2nd person of color to play a white princess

While many of us know Halle is set to play Ariel in the live action film, she will be the second person of color, specifically Black woman, to play a white princess (singer and actress Brandy was the first for Cinderella). Numerous Black girls rejoiced when Halle was casted for the role.

Halle Bailey finally has her own Instagram account

She and her sister decided to create separate Instagram accounts to continue showcasing their talents and daily lives to their die-hard fans. Recently, Halle posted an a cappella cover of SWV’s “Rain” on TikTok and Twitter that had the Internet shook. This is merely only a snippet of what we will see when the live action film debuts.

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Halle Bailey's interview from The Cut:

Skin deep Mar. 31, 2021

Chloe x Halle Love an Invisible Sunscreen
By Kathleen Hou

Chloe x Halle are truly grown now. Two albums in — and with their latest, Ungoldly Hour, making the Billboard charts — sisters Chloe and Halle Bailey, once known as Beyoncé’s favorite teens, are now her favorite Gen-Zers. The singing duo are now the newly minted faces of Neutrogena and the first-ever musicians to be signed by the brand.

Even over Zoom, the sisters are full of twinkly, bright energy, starting the interview with a hello and a compliment. The Cut talked to them about the connection between mental health and beauty, the time Twitter freaked out about their skin-care routine, and their favorite sunscreen.

Where are you guys right now?

Halle Bailey: Right now, my sister is in Los Angeles and I am in London. We’ve been in separate places for about three months.

Chloe Bailey: It’s so sad. It is the longest we have ever been away from each other. It’s super weird.

How is your pandemic going?

HB: It’s going good, I think. This year and last year have been crazy. It’s been blessings upon blessings. This pandemic has brought a lot for us — we have been able to release music, be close with loved ones, and be grateful for what we have and love. We are forever grateful that we were able to release our album, Ungodly Hour, do a lot of TV performances, and do things like this with Neutrogena.

CB: [At the beginning of the pandemic,] I just wanted to pig out, lay out, and have fun. Now I am feeling more focused, more driven, and I miss my sister to pieces, even though we can’t tour because of the pandemic. Still, we were able to visually show the album, thanks to the live appearance on our tennis court. So more recently, I have been very creatively inspired. I’m happy that we had an outlet where we were able to get that feeling out. Right now, I am vibing and going with the flow and just seeing where life takes me.

People love seeing other people’s skin-care routines, and Twitter recently jokingly freaked out over your old routine, which was primarily coconut-oil and rosewater based. What do you think when you look back at your routine now?

CB: Well, as with everything, there is evolution. Being young Black girls, coconut oil was a staple for us, as well as shea butter. It kept our skin moisturized and locked in. I’m not knocking coconut oil at all. I’m still grateful for it, and still, sometimes, I use it to help me remove my makeup. But now, we just added some extra things to give us that boost, i.e., Neutrogena, hello!

Did you ever feel like you struggled in your relationship with beauty and how did you overcome it?

HB: I feel like I had to find myself in the land of beauty. Ever since I was younger, I haven’t really been a huge glam or makeup girl. But as I was growing up, I started doing lots of performances and was going on tour, where we had to do our own makeup. I realized, Wow, I really have to step it up. You see our faces up close sometimes. I had to find what my beauty was in makeup and in natural beauty. I really enjoyed my journey. It taught me a lot about self-acceptance, especially when we were touring. My skin would break out so bad on the road. I never knew what the problem was. I was still growing, I was a teenager, and it was just just hormones and everything. It taught me how to take care of my skin and get a consistent routine. I’ve grown in learning to accept everything that I have and take care of what I’ve been given.

I know that you both have mentioned skin inclusivity is important to you. Where do you hope it goes from here?

CB: I would love products by everybody in the beauty industry to be open and inclusive to women of all shades, all colors. One of the reasons why I am proud to be an ambassador for Neutrogena is because they are taking active steps to make that possible. I really, really love the sunscreen. It’s invisible, it doesn’t leave a white cast, you don’t look ashy when you put it on, and it gives you glow.

Even with being a Black woman, I get discoloration sometimes when I get pimples. I notice my skin tone evening out because of what I’m doing and how I’m taking care of my skin. It’s important for all of us, including women of color, to wear sunscreen because “Black don’t crack” but we want to keep it that way. That’s why sunscreen is my best friend.

How do you see the connection between mental health and beauty?

HB: Mental health and beauty go hand-in-hand. We live in a world where sometimes you’re shown images so pristine and perfect that you look at yourself and think, Why am I not like this Photoshopped photo? Why is my skin not this flawless? But that’s not real. That’s fake.

To embrace who you truly are within includes your flaws, which are what make you beautiful. Everyone is different in their own way. That’s what really makes you stand out. When I’m getting low about myself, I think, You know what? I am beautiful; I am here for a reason. Sometimes, beauty and doing the simple steps of taking care of your skin can change your mental state and make you feel better. It can be doing that routine, using certain products that make you glow from the inside out. All this affects your brain and mental health and makes you feel better about yourself. This is me, and this is who I am.

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From ScreenRant:

Melissa McCarthy Has Already Recorded Her Little Mermaid Songs
Melissa McCarthy revealed that she's already recorded her Ursula songs for Disney's live-action The Little Mermaid.

BY ROBERT PETERPAUL
PUBLISHED 2 DAYS AGO

Melissa McCarthy has already recorded her songs for Disney's live-action The Little Mermaid. McCarthy's name first bubbled up as being a part of the highly-anticipated remake back in 2019. The Bridesmaids icon eventually went ahead and signed on to play the villainous sea witch Ursula. Disney confirmed the star-studded principal cast in December of 2020, touting Oscar and Pulitzer Prize-winning talents.

Halle Bailey (Grown-ish) leads the cast as yearning red-headed mermaid Ariel. Oscar-winner Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men) plays her father, the powerful King Triton, aided by Tony-winner Daveed Diggs (Hamilton) as Sebastian. Rounding out the cast is Jacob Tremblay (Room) as Flounder, Jonah Hauer-King (A Dog's Way Home) as Prince Eric, and Oscar-winner Awkwafina (The Farewell) as Scuttle. The production team is equally acclaimed, with Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda teaming up to bring both beloved tunes from the classic and new music to the film. Musical maven Rob Marshall steers the production ship as director.

Melissa McCarthy teased SiriusXM with some updates on the film, most notably revealing that she's already laid down all her vocal tracks. "Like I've already recorded, you know, I did all my rehearsals in London," she said. The Emmy-winner continued to say that she hasn't actually begun filming yet, adding: "I'm going back in about a month to actually get to do the scenes that we rehearsed."

As with many of her co-stars, McCarthy expressed how unbelievable it all feels. "I still kind of can't believe it's happening," she said. The comedic genius went on to discuss how she never fathomed she'd have a "couple numbers in a movie" or a "60-foot clamshell." At this stage, excitement is really the only thing the cast can tease without giving away Disney magic.

While McCarthy doesn't usually play the villain, she's certainly got a knack for tapping into the core of larger-than-life characters. From her brash Bridesmaids breakout to her heartbreaking performance in Can You Ever Forgive Me?, McCarthy's shown she's got the vaudevillian charm needed for the half-octopus, half-woman creature. She's even playing Marvel villain Fake Hela in Taika Waititi's Thor: Love and Thunder, which has been filming in Australia.

Upon news of The Little Mermaid casting choice, there was some concern over whether McCarthy had the vocal prowess needed to belt out Ursula's iconic songs. Although she's not synonymous with musicals, McCarthy previously proved she's got vocal chops by singing a duet with none other than Barbra Streisand on her 2016 album ENCORE: Movie Partners Sing Broadway. The pair sang "Anything You Can Do", and after listening, it's clear that anyone doubting McCarthy's ability doesn't have much to fear.

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From Patch:

Plainfield's Melissa McCarthy In New Film, Talks 'Little Mermaid'
The comedic actress' new film "Thunder Force" debuts on Netflix on April 9, and she will play Ursula in the live action "Little Mermaid."

Dan Shalin, Patch Staff

Posted Wed, Mar 31, 2021 at 12:07 pm CT

Melissa McCarthy and husband Ben Falcone, pictured here at the 2020 Producers Guild Awards, collaborated on the upcoming film "Thunder Force," which will debut on Netflix on April 9.
Melissa McCarthy and husband Ben Falcone, pictured here at the 2020 Producers Guild Awards, collaborated on the upcoming film "Thunder Force," which will debut on Netflix on April 9. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Imagess)
HOLLYWOOD, CA —Plainfield native Melissa McCarthy's new film "Thunder Force" will make its streaming debut on Netflix on April 9, Variety reports. In promoting the film, which is directed by McCarthy's husband Ben Falcone, the "Bridesmaids" actress also spoke about her role as Ursula in the upcoming live action version of "The Little Mermaid," which already is in production.

Netflix recently released the trailer for "Thunder Force," in which McCarthy will star with Octavia Spencer. The movie is about childhood best friends who reunite as an unlikely crime-fighting superhero duo when one invents a formula that gives ordinary people superpowers. When a villain known as "The King" arrives in town, it's up to the Thunder Force to step up and save Chicago from the wretches of evil.

The film also features actors Jason Bateman and Bobby Cannavale. According to Variety, Falcone previously has worked with McCarthy on films such as "Tammy," "The Boss," "Life of the Party," and HBO Max's "Superintelligence."

While promoting "Thunder Force," McCarthy, Spencer and Falcone appeared on Wednesday's SiriusXM Town Hall special hosted by Jess Cagle. McCarthy offered an update about "The Little Mermaid."

"I mean it's just, I still kind of can't believe it's happening," McCarthy said "Like I've already recorded, you know, I did all my rehearsals in London. I'm going back in about a month to actually get to do the scenes that we rehearsed. It's like, you know, it just never in my life did I think I'd have a 60-foot clamshell and like a couple numbers in a movie, like it's incredible. I'm really excited about it."

McCarthy, 50, grew up in Plainfield and went to high school at St. Francis Academy in Joliet. In the past, the actress has given shoutouts to her hometown while accepting the Emmy Award for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and during an appearance "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert." McCarthy also said she based her character in the sitcom "Mike & Molly" on her fifth-grade teacher Lynne Breen at St. Mary Immaculate in Plainfield.

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From InterviewMagazine:

IN CONVERSATION
Noma Dumezweni and Cynthia Erivo on Spirituality, Broadway, and Made for Love
By Cynthia Erivo
Photographed by Pieter Henket
Styled by Anatoli Smith
April 2, 2021

Noma Dumezweni has kind of done it all. In 2006, she won a Laurence Olivier Award for her role as Ruth in A Raisin in the Sun, the classic play by Lorraine Hansberry. A few years later, in 2015, she famously landed the role as Hermione Granger in the original West End and Broadway runs of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, for which she received her second Laurence Olivier Award and a Tony Award nomination. Most recently, she played the intense and passionate defense attorney Haley Fitzgerald in HBO’s The Undoing opposite Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant. Now, she’s starring in the new HBO Max comedy series Made For Love, about a woman on the run from a toxic relationship with a tech billionaire, and is currently filming the live-action version of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, starring Halle Bailey of Chloe x Halle. To discuss her expansive career, Dumezweni hopped on a Zoom call with her fellow British actress and Oscar-nominated friend Cynthia Erivo to discuss the difference between theater and film, the joys of being an old soul, and learning to declare you deserve love. —JULIANA UKIOMOGBE

NOMA DUMEZWENI: Well, we did it. Oh, Cynthia.

CYNTHIA ERIVO: Hi, hello.

DUMEZWENI: Look at you and your bloody Los Angeles weather. I’m in London.

ERIVO: Oh, what are you doing in London?

DUMEZWENI: I arrived yesterday. I’m here to start Little Mermaid-ing.

ERIVO: What are you doing in Little Mermaid?

DUMEZWENI: I can’t tell you. I can say that I’m doing it, and that’s what’s great. It’s now official.

ERIVO: Text me and I’ll text you what I’m doing in Pinocchio.

DUMEZWENI: Oh my god. I think I know. Thank you for doing this, because I’m going, “She’s ******* busy.”

ERIVO: But here’s the thing, it came up and I was like, “Yes.” I didn’t even think about it. Just because I know we haven’t had a good talk for a long time. I just want to know what’s been going on. I want to find out what your experience has been so far.

DUMEZWENI: When I arrived in New York, you were so bloody lovely to me. Finally, we finally met after years of snooping each other. You’d done The Color Purple two years before and you’d literally broken ******* barriers, babe. Are we waiting for the O to get the EGOT? We’re waiting for the O, aren’t we?

ERIVO: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

DUMEZWENI: I just got chills. It’s coming. You know it’s coming, don’t you?

ERIVO: Thank you. Oh my gosh. Well, now that you’re saying it…

DUMEZWENI: I just spoke a truth.

ERIVO: I’ve always been a fan of yours. You have this real understanding and certainty of everything you are. Whenever you step in front of anyone, there’s just no shame about it.

DUMEZWENI: Thank you, baby.

ERIVO: Did you have that for a long while and we were just waiting to see it? Or has it come in the last few years?

DUMEZWENI: It’s come in the last few years. I’ve met the universe’s ask. The universe is asking me to do this, whatever you want to call it. God. Allah. The Spirit. I call it Divine Source. I just go, “You’ve been waiting for me to arrive for you.” As I’m getting older, I’m getting much more certain in my spirituality. When I was younger, I was agnostic. But then, magical things have happened in my life to make me go, there’s other stuff going on here. That realization came at 44. I took a plane out to South Africa, and I saw my mom and my dad together for the first time since I was 12. That was a miracle moment. And then, all these stories I’ve told myself about being a child of a single parent, I went, “Not worthy, not worthy, not worthy, not worthy.” I made up this story. When I saw these people, I realized their story wasn’t my story.

ERIVO: It’s the humanization of our parents that makes us realize, “Oh, they’re on their own journey. And so am I.”

DUMEZWENI: Our gods and goddesses are human.

ERIVO: I also have gotten to a place with everything where I just want to be as transparent as I possibly can so people can understand my experience.

DUMEZWENI: You’re also doing it with love. That’s what I thought was great. And there’s no judgment.

ERIVO: I don’t believe in carrying around bad energy. Some people call it grudges, some people call it hate. I don’t think that’s good for our path. Sometimes we think that doing that is affecting the other person, and it’s actually doing the very opposite. I gained something from that experience so that I could carry it forward to where I am right now.

DUMEZWENI: I look back and I said, “I didn’t do drama school. They know something better than I do. I’m not bright enough.” All those things, putting yourself away. Then I look now, and go, “Oh god, I wouldn’t change my story for anything.”

ERIVO: I’m so excited for you. So you do Harry Potter in London. Do they already know it’s coming to Broadway? Or do they decide halfway?

DUMEZWENI: I think they knew quite early on. I know that we’d heard about it after it had just opened in previews as a potential that it might happen. So, it’s towards the end of finishing the show and it’s looking like it’s happening. That seven months was glorious. Because I went, “It’s a break, I can do other brilliant pieces of work.” So I did Black Earth Rising with Michaela [Coel], which was fantastic. And The Kid Who Would Be King, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. Those were lovely little practices of TV and film. I always call TV and film practice. And then, you arrive and you do Broadway. That’s where I got to meet you. You’ve just been so ******* supportive. You just check in, here and there, which I absolutely adore. Then I got The Undoing, which was fantastic.

ERIVO: I have to say, first of all, everyone is in love with you.

DUMEZWENI: Thank you very, much. It was a learning curve, but it really prepared me for everything else that’s coming after. Nicole [Kidman] and Hugh [Grant] were amazing. All of the actors were amazing. The piece was great. The writing was great. But, I was like, “I’m still on theater mode.” The first full week, I thought I was going to be fired. I thought, “I’m not good enough, I’m too big, they’re telling me to go quiet. I keep throwing to the back of the room. I just can’t do that intimate TV thing.” One learns it.

ERIVO: You have to learn. And here’s the thing, when I was doing The Color Purple, [Celie] is small by nature. So I wasn’t acting to the back of the room, because for me, the idea was that you have to come to her. She’s not an outward person. When I did Widows with Steve [McQueen], he was like, “It’s too small.”

DUMEZWENI: Stop it.

ERIVO: Yeah. And I still sometimes fall into it, where it’s like, “You can give me more than that.”

DUMEZWENI: Oh, wow. I love that that’s your default and it’s easy for you to get bigger. It’s a practice, and I do feel like a newbie at this age. That’s what The Undoing taught me. So then going onto Made for Love, it was like, “Oh this is easy, I’m doing my own accent for a start. I’m doing a nice little supporting role. Cristin [Milioti] and Billy [Magnussen] are going to be our leading actors.” It’s my first time in L.A. It’s been amazing, baby. Because I will say what The Undoing taught me was to not need validation from a director, but to get on. I will walk to another job going, “Okay, how can we make this work?” Not, “What do you think of me? Do you like me, do you like what I’m doing?”

ERIVO: It’s a shift that you have to make when that happens. It’s more of a collaboration. “Here’s what we can do, here’s how we can maybe try and figure this out.”

DUMEZWENI: Yes, absolutely.

ERIVO: I wonder if that’s to do with the person on the other side of it. It’s one thing to say, “I’m collaborating with this person,” but if the other person isn’t collaborating with you, then you can’t. Neither one of us will learn how to if you don’t actually meet in the middle.

DUMEZWENI: Absolutely. That’s a very astute way of putting it. That’s exactly it.

ERIVO: What are you looking forward to? I feel like you have this new stretch of life in front of you that I’m not sure that you knew was coming.

DUMEZWENI: When we met, it was like, “Well, I’m going to be doing this on Broadway and then going back to London, and let’s just see what happens.” But it’s changed my life. I’m enjoying the TV and film exploration. In theater, I know exactly how to present it—where I vibrate, where I resonate. I realized that I want my daughter to know that she can.

ERIVO: I love that. Again, you’re creating freedom for people to create. It really is your mission.

DUMEZWENI: You are witchy. Yes you are.

ERIVO: Do you pick your roles specifically?

DUMEZWENI: It’s my body. My body either goes “yes” or it goes “nah.” It’s very clear. I’ve learned to trust my body, not my head. When my head starts weighing in, then I know there’s something wrong. If it’s trying to reason, my head’s got to be out of the way. I am in a position now that things are coming towards me, that I can, “Oh, yes.” Because it’s not usually the actual piece, I want to see who is playing. That’s what I’m interested in. I have to feel my way through it, and if you’re not on that, if I can’t play with you, we’re not going to create.

ERIVO: I’ve enjoyed watching your journey through it all. Because I know how much you deserve it. I know how much you’ve put in. I know how much you’ve worked. So I know how much you have earned the space. There comes a point where you go, “I could keep waiting to be accepted for the things I bring to the table. Or I could make it myself.”

DUMEZWENI: But society teaches you a certain thing. You’re the generation that goes, “f*** society, let’s get on with it.” And I love that. f***’s sake, that’s exactly what it is. That’s brilliant.

ERIVO: I know that we never really get asked this question. Love. How do you feel about it? What do you want from it? Have you found it? Are you looking for it?

DUMEZWENI: All of the above. But I haven’t found it. That’s one of the things I went low with. That’s been in the air for me. And I think I’ve concentrated on work and baby, and that’s been my safe space as I’m getting vulnerable, as I’m opening up in my creativity. You go, “Oh, girl. What does love look like?” I know, for me, love looks like loving people. I love energies. I go, “How can I serve you, how can I make you feel better?” It’s interesting because you’re a Capricorn, and I’m a Capricorn moon. Whoever I’m going to love, I go, “You’ve got to be amazing.” Whoever that person is has got to be amazing.

ERIVO: It’s a shift that you have to make when that happens. It’s more of a collaboration. “Here’s what we can do, here’s how we can maybe try and figure this out.”

DUMEZWENI: Yes, absolutely.

ERIVO: I wonder if that’s to do with the person on the other side of it. It’s one thing to say, “I’m collaborating with this person,” but if the other person isn’t collaborating with you, then you can’t. Neither one of us will learn how to if you don’t actually meet in the middle.

DUMEZWENI: Absolutely. That’s a very astute way of putting it. That’s exactly it.

ERIVO: What are you looking forward to? I feel like you have this new stretch of life in front of you that I’m not sure that you knew was coming.

DUMEZWENI: When we met, it was like, “Well, I’m going to be doing this on Broadway and then going back to London, and let’s just see what happens.” But it’s changed my life. I’m enjoying the TV and film exploration. In theater, I know exactly how to present it—where I vibrate, where I resonate. I realized that I want my daughter to know that she can.

ERIVO: I love that. Again, you’re creating freedom for people to create. It really is your mission.

DUMEZWENI: You are witchy. Yes you are.

ERIVO: Do you pick your roles specifically?

DUMEZWENI: It’s my body. My body either goes “yes” or it goes “nah.” It’s very clear. I’ve learned to trust my body, not my head. When my head starts weighing in, then I know there’s something wrong. If it’s trying to reason, my head’s got to be out of the way. I am in a position now that things are coming towards me, that I can, “Oh, yes.” Because it’s not usually the actual piece, I want to see who is playing. That’s what I’m interested in. I have to feel my way through it, and if you’re not on that, if I can’t play with you, we’re not going to create.

ERIVO: I’ve enjoyed watching your journey through it all. Because I know how much you deserve it. I know how much you’ve put in. I know how much you’ve worked. So I know how much you have earned the space. There comes a point where you go, “I could keep waiting to be accepted for the things I bring to the table. Or I could make it myself.”

DUMEZWENI: But society teaches you a certain thing. You’re the generation that goes, “f*** society, let’s get on with it.” And I love that. f***’s sake, that’s exactly what it is. That’s brilliant.

ERIVO: I know that we never really get asked this question. Love. How do you feel about it? What do you want from it? Have you found it? Are you looking for it?

DUMEZWENI: All of the above. But I haven’t found it. That’s one of the things I went low with. That’s been in the air for me. And I think I’ve concentrated on work and baby, and that’s been my safe space as I’m getting vulnerable, as I’m opening up in my creativity. You go, “Oh, girl. What does love look like?” I know, for me, love looks like loving people. I love energies. I go, “How can I serve you, how can I make you feel better?” It’s interesting because you’re a Capricorn, and I’m a Capricorn moon. Whoever I’m going to love, I go, “You’ve got to be amazing.” Whoever that person is has got to be amazing.

ERIVO: Yeah. I know we always think it’s some big ask to find someone who is everything you want, but everything I want might not necessarily be the same as you want. Your everything is very different from my everything.

DUMEZWENI: Very different, but that’s the beauty of love.

ERIVO: I wonder if you’re in a space to say to yourself, “I deserve it now.”

DUMEZWENI: I just had this conversation recently with a friend in exactly those words. “Do I?” And I realized I haven’t felt that I deserved it. Let’s leave that for a moment because I’m feeling a bit… [Pause] Oh, baby. It’s huge. Thank you for opening me up and letting me say that. Because I don’t speak in that way. I don’t do that. But I think it’s so important, and I think everyone wants to connect. I love you, thank you for that.

ERIVO: I love you, too. I’ll say it. You deserve it. And when you’re ready, you can say you deserve it, too.

DUMEZWENI: You know what? I’ll say it right now. I deserve it. Thank you, baby.

ERIVO: Congratulations on everything. I’m so excited about all of the things that are coming your way. Because they are.

DUMEZWENI: They are. I do feel that. You’re an old soul. Fully grown.

ERIVO: Thank you.

DUMEZWENI: I’m so excited for you. f*** off. Go on with your bad self.

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Noma Dumezweni talk about Halle Bailey and Jonah Hauer King:

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Italian article from CinemaICrewPlay:

La Sirenetta Disney sbarca in Sardegna
Santa Teresa di Gallura pronta a ospitare produzione e star

Chiara carratta
10 ore fa

La Sirenetta Disney si prepara a nuotare nei mari nostrani e per farlo, ha scelto le acque trasparenti e cristalline della Sardegna.

È di pochi giorni fa infatti la notizia, non ancora ufficiale, che il colosso cinematografico americano abbia scelto l’isola, e in particolare la Gallura, come scenario per il remake del film d’animazione che nel 1999 sbancò ai botteghini.


La notizia, anticipata dal quotidiano La Nuova Sardegna, non è ancora ufficiale come dicevamo, l’organizzazione è già in moto e a maggio la produzione, la troupe e i protagonisti prenderanno casa a Santa Teresa Gallura, dove quasi sicuramente avrà base il quartier generale.

Le riprese del nuovo film Disney dedicato alla Sirenetta potrebbero saranno realizzate tra Santa Teresa di Gallura, Castelsardo e Golfo Aranci dove si trovano alcune tra le migliori spiagge d’Italia, ma alcune scene saranno girate anche a Cinecittà, a Roma.

Il Remake del classico Disney, sarà diretto da Rob Marshall, che ha firmato capolavori come Chicago, Memorie di una geisha, Nine, Pirati dei Caraibi – Oltre i confini del mondo, Into the Woods e Il ritorno di Mary Poppins, mente il ruolo di Ariel è stato affidato alla cantante Halle Bailey.


Melissa McCarthy interpreterà il ruolo dell’antagonista Ursula, mentre il premio Oscar Javier Bardem vestirà i panni di Tritone,il padre di Ariel e re del regno di Atlantica.

La voce del granchio Sebastian sarà quella di Daveed Diggs.

Dopo l’operazione realizzata tra Olbia e le coste galluresi nel 2017 da George Clooney, regista e autore della mini-serie Catch 22 prodotta da Sky Atlantic e Paramount Television, la cui base era stata allestita nell’aeroporto dismesso di Venafiorita, a Olbia, la Sardegna e in particolare il quadrante nordorientale tornano quindi sotto i riflettori del grande cinema internazionale.


Nell’isola sarda, il set verrà allestito dai primi di giugno ai primi di luglio e per l’occasione, in Gallura, sono attese circa 350 persone, tra attori, comparse e troupe.

Stando alle prime anticipazioni, durante le riprese potrebbero inoltre essere usate delle imbarcazioni d’epoca.

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From TheDisInsider:

‘The Little Mermaid’ To Shoot in Sardinia This Summer
1 hour ago Josh Sharpe



The upcoming live-action remake of 1989’s The Little Mermaid has been highly anticipated for some time. Though the film began development last year, production on the film was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it now seems that things are moving right along as production is set to move from Pinewood Studios in London to the Italian island of Sardinia.

Sardinia is home to a small seaside village called Santa Teresa di Gallura and will also be the home of The Little Mermaid shoot come early summer. 300 people are expected to be working on the production and preparation has already begun for the shoot, with Disney employees scouting locations for filming. Production on Sardinia is expected to last about three months.

Much of this information comes from Sardinian sources who are preparing for the filming taking place this summer.

Directed by Rob Marshall, The Little Mermaid stars Halle Bailey as Ariel. The film will feature the original music by Alan Menken in addition to new songs co-written by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The cast also includes Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, and Javier Bardem as King Triton. Last month, Jessica Alexander joined the cast in an unnamed role. No release date for the film has been announced.

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From Variety:

Disney’s Live Action ‘Little Mermaid’ Set to Shoot in Sardinia

By Nick Vivarelli


Live Action Little Mermaid Sardinia

Disney’s live action adaptation of “The Little Mermaid,” starring R&B singer Halle Bailey as Ariel, is set to shoot on the Italian island of Sardinia, known for its crystal clear emerald waters.

Production crew of the hotly anticipated Disney pic, directed by Rob Marshall, is expected to start disembarking in Sardinia in coming weeks. The shoot will be moving from London’s Pinewood Studios to the small seaside village of Santa Teresa di Gallura, on the island’s northern coast, according to a local press report, which sources have confirmed. The area is known for its stunning, super clean seafront, rocky shore and Bronze Age artifacts.

Cameras are expected to start rolling in early summer on the Sardinia portion of the “Little Mermaid” shoot, according to local tourism official Fabrizio Scolafurru, who was speaking with Sardinian newspaper La Nuova Sardegna.

The proud Sardinian official said “Little Mermaid” will involve some 300 people working on the island location for a total of “roughly three months.”

The Sardinia Film Commission, citing a non-disclosure agreement with the studio, declined to comment on the report. Disney did not immediately respond to Variety’s request for comment.

Disney scouts are currently in Sardinia making the final rounds to pinpoint exact marine and other locations for the film, as well as carrying out prep work, one local source told Variety.

The island’s dreamlike landscape combining rugged coastlines, uncontaminated nature and mysterious ancient stone structures called nuraghe, is a well-established magnet for international productions spanning James Bond classic “The Spy Who Loved Me” to George Clooney-directed TV series “Catch-22,” and more recently Austrian writer-director Ulrike Kofler’s 2020 melodrama “What We Wanted,” now streaming globally on Netflix, as well as Netflix’s upcoming Dwayne Johnson-led actioner “Red Notice.”

In line with its nature-friendly spirit, productions shot in Sardinia are made to respect so-called Green Set protocols to reduce their environmental footprint. The island offers financial incentives comprising a local co-production fund and hospitality cash rebate on top of Italy’s 30% tax credit (with a roughly $22 million cap), which also has a cash-back structure allowing producers to use 80% of the incentive while they shoot.

“The Little Mermaid” went into production in 2020, but was subsequently delayed by the pandemic. Besides Halle Bailey in the lead as the mermaid princess who dreams of being a human, the pic stars Melissa McCarthy as her evil aunt Ursula, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric and Javier Bardem as King Triton.

The upcoming film will incorporate original songs from the 1989 animated classic, as well as new tunes from original composer Alan Menken, with lyrics by “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. Miranda is also producing along with Marshall, Marc Platt and John DeLuca. Jessica Virtue and Allison Erlikhman are overseeing for the studio.

A release date for “Little Mermaid” has yet to be revealed by Disney though a 2022 outing is likely.

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Italian articles.

From La Repubblica:

'La sirenetta' delle polemiche sarà girato in Sardegna. Disney a Santa Teresa di Gallura per i sopralluoghi
Il live action diretto da Rob Marshall con protagonista Halle Bailey sarà girato negli studi di Londra Pinewood e nella località sarda. Le riprese inizieranno a breve e termineranno a luglio.

07 Aprile 2021
2 minuti di lettura

Lo splendido mare di Santa Teresa di Gallura sarà quello in cui nuoterà la nuova Sirenetta Disney, alias Halle Bailey protagonista del live action delle polemiche. Il film diretto da Rob Marshall (Chicago, Il ritorno di Mary Poppins) sarà girato negli studi di Londra Pinewood e nella località in provincia di Sassari, come anticipato da La Nuova Sardegna e ripreso anche da Variety. "Quando si ricevono un certo tipo di richieste di informazioni, scattano subito le verifiche del caso per capire se sia tutto reale - ha racconta l'assessore al Turismo, Fabrizio Scolafurru al quotidiano sardo -. Il primo contatto era avvenuto già nel 2020, e nella richiesta ci avevano chiesto il massimo riserbo. Addirittura la produzione intendeva iniziare le riprese già la scorsa estate, ma la pandemia ha ovviamente costretto al rinvio l'inizio dei lavori".

Le riprese inizieranno a breve, andranno avanti fino a luglio e coinvolgeranno circa 300 persone, altra location gli storici studi di Pinewood in Inghilterra. Il film annunciato nell'estate del 2019 ha già sollevato diverse polemiche per la scelta della cantante Halle Bailey che con la sorella Chloe forma il duo Chloe x Halle, uscito dalla fucina Disney dopo aver vinto il concorso Next Big Thing di Radio Disney. Ventun anni (ne aveva 19 quando era stata scritturata) questa ragazza della Georgia era stata criticata poiché, secondo alcuni, non rispettava il canone di bellezza pelle chiara, occhi azzurri e capelli rossi della versione cartoon. Era dovuta intervenire la doppiatrice storica del cartoon, l'attrice Jodi Benson, per sedare gli animi: "Quello che si mette in un personaggio, il suo spirito e il suo cuore, è ciò che veramente conta. Non importa come siamo al di fuori, la propria razza, nazione, il colore della pelle, il nostro dialetto, se siamo alte o basse, grasse o magre o di qualunque colore sia il colore dei capelli. Quello che veramente conta è il nostro bisogno di raccontare questa storia". Completano il cast Melissa McCarthy nei panni della cattiva zia Ursula, Jonah Hauer-King come principe Eric e Javier Bardem come il Re Tritone, padre di Ariel. Alcune delle canzoni originali del cartoon torneranno e ci sarà una nuova colonna sonora scritta da Alan Menken, con le parole di Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton, Il ritorno di Mary Poppins).

Variety scrive che la produzione della Sirenetta è realizzata nel rispetto dei cosiddetti protocolli Green Set per ridurre il loro impatto ambientale. L'isola offre incentivi finanziari che comprendono un fondo di coproduzione locale e un rimborso in contanti per l'ospitalità oltre al credito d'imposta del 30 per cento in Italia (con un limite di circa 22 milioni di dollari), che ha anche una struttura di rimborso che consente ai produttori di utilizzare l'80 per cento dell'incentivo durante le riprese.