Halle Bailey Sings Her Heart Out In 'The little Mermaid' Trailer

Bailey makes up half of the Grammy-nominated R&B duo Chloe x Halle. Her acting credits include 'A Wrinkle in Time,' 'Grown-ish' and 'Last Holiday.'

When it was announced that a Black woman would play Ariel, some Twitter users erupted with the #NotMyAriel hashtag.

The actor told Variety that she turned to her grandparents for advice who provided their stories of racism amid the storm. "It was an inspiring and beautiful thing to hear their words of encouragement, telling me, 'You don't understand what this is doing for us, for our community, for all the little Black and brown girls who are going to see themselves in you,'" Bailey said.

The thought of inspiring young girls with the representation she did not have growing up also helped during the backlash, she said. "What that would have done for me, how that would have changed my confidence, my belief in myself, everything," Bailey said.

"Things that seem so small to everyone else, it's so big to us."

'The Little Mermaid' is the story of Ariel, a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. The youngest of King Triton's daughters and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea and, while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric. While mermaids are forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel must follow her heart. She makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, who gives her a chance to experience life on land but ultimately places her life - and her father's crown - in jeopardy.

Miranda, Marshall, Russell Allen, John DeLuca, Marc Platt and Michael Zimmer are producing the live-action remake.

'The Little Mermaid' premieres May 26.