Home » News » “This is an iconic thing people really care about” – Rachel Zegler and Halle Bailey talk about their live-action Disney princess characters
“This is an iconic thing people really care about” – Rachel Zegler and Halle Bailey talk about their live-action Disney princess characters
While Halle Bailey worked as Ariel mermaid in Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Rachel Zegler worked as Snow White in Disney’s Snow White
Dec 07, 2023
Rachel Zegler and Halle Bailey
Rachel Zegler and Halle Bailey both have been receiving immense appreciation throughout the year. As Halle is getting praised for Disney’s live-action princess character, Rachel is getting praised for her performance as Lucy Gray Baird in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.
Both the films are quite prominent, as one is a Disney film, and another one is The Hunger Games franchise prequel. While The Little Mermaid has grossed $185 million, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes collected $200 million, worldwide.
Rachel Zegler and Halle Bailey's face-to-face chat
Hence it was quite surprising, yet interesting to watch the duo come together face-to-face for an exclusive interview for Variety's Actors On Actors. As Rachel and Halle both are very young women, like in their early twenties, they looked very enthusiastic and giggling every now and then. From sharing about their recent works, their debuts, experiences with other big stars, CGI works to being Disney’s princesses, it was quite an engaging conversation for over forty minutes.
Rachel Zegler and Halle Bailey's Disney characters
For the unversed, Halle Bailey has created history by being the first black Disney live-action princess, based on Disney’s 1989 animated film. Rachel Zegler, being of Latin origin, will be seen as Disney’s Snow White opposite Gal Gadot, who will be seen as Evil Queen. The film Snow White is slated to release in 2025.
Halle Bailey paised Rachel Zegler for her performance in The Hunger Games
However, while sharing her experience working on Little Mermaid, Bailey shared that she felt very fortunate, yet mesmerised and could not believe that it was actually happening with her. She immediately asked Rachel that she definitely understands the feeling as a fellow Disney princess. “I know you must feel the same because you’re a fellow Disney princess girl, Ms. Snow White! I’m so excited to see that.” Halle shared, “I’m counting down the days. And I saw “Hunger Games. Woo! When I was younger, I was a Twilight girl and a Hunger Games girl, and then when I heard it was you, I’m like, ‘Oh, my God. She’s going to freaking murder it!’ And you did. I was in tears every time you opened your mouth to sing, literally. But that’s such a massive film. It has such a history, where people care so much about the franchise and get so sensitive over every little thing. How are you able to navigate going into a film like that coming off Snow White?”
Rachel feels blessed to be a live-action Disney princess
To that question, Rachel replied that she literally mourned the shooting wrap of Snow White. She shared that it's like a massive pressure to work in such iconic films. “The fan base is so huge, so dedicated. I’m one of them, so I know how I would feel if I were watching a reboot of a franchise I adore. You just want to do right by them. But Suzanne Collins, who wrote them, she’s doing right by them because she created the universe”, Zegler added.
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