It's a dream for many Canadians, trying to save up enough money for a down payment on their very first home. That was also the dream for the Esmeralda family, a family of five with two dogs who currently live in a Scarborough apartment building.
Halle Bailey says backlash to her being cast as Ariel in 'Little Mermaid' was 'not really a shock'
Halle Bailey can't wait for audiences to see the new live-action "The Little Mermaid" and is unfazed by naysayers.
In a new interview with The Face published on Thursday, the singer and actor said that the backlash that arose when news broke of her being cast as mermaid Ariel -- and again when the first glimpse of her in the role was revealed last fall -- was not surprising.
"As a Black person, you just expect it and it's not really a shock anymore," the Grammy nominee said.
"People don't understand that when you're Black there's this whole other community," she shared. "It's so important for us to see ourselves."
To that point, Bailey also mentioned that after the teaser dropped, when parents started sharing videos of their Black daughters marveling at Bailey as Ariel, she stared at them "in disbelief."
鈥"It makes me feel more grateful for where I am," she said.
The rising star also credited the "Little Mermaid" filmmakers with allowing her authentic identity to be a part of this new iteration of the aquatic Disney princess, specifically with regard to her hair.
鈥"As a Black woman, hair is spiritual, especially locs," Bailey said, also mentioning that a significant portion of prep time on set was devoted to analyzing how her hair moved in water.
"It was really cool for them to make Ariel a version of me with my locs," she added.
"The Little Mermaid," based on the 1989 animated classic, also stars Melissa McCarthy as sea witch Ursula. It is slated for release on May 26.
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Local Spotlight
He is a familiar face to residents of a neighbourhood just west of Roncesvalles Avenue.
A meteor lit up our region's sky last night 鈥 with a large fireball shooting across the horizon over Lake Erie at around 7:00 p.m.
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A man who lost his life while trying to rescue people from floodwaters, and a 13-year-old boy who saved his family from a dog attack, are among the Nova Scotians who received a medal for bravery Tuesday.
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Hortense Anglin was the oldest graduate to make her way across the platform at York University's Fall Convocation ceremony this week. At the age of 87, she graduated with an Honours degree in Religious Studies.
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