Movies

All the women who have played Ariel in The Little Mermaid

Look at this list, isn't it neat?

By

Updated on September 15, 2023 12:33PM EDT

Disney has made a splash with its newest version of The Little Mermaid, starring Halle Bailey as Ariel.

The Chloe x Halle singer is the first woman of color to be cast in the role of a traditionally white Disney princess in one of the studio's live-action remakes. It's a move that has garnered praise from stars like Zendaya, who broke barriers herself as the first woman of color to play the traditionally white role of M.J. in the Tom Holland-led Spider-Man franchise.

Bailey joins a small but impressive roster of women who have gone under the sea to portray Ariel, the rebellious mermaid obsessed with life on land and struggling with her overprotective father and preordained, sheltered existence of underwater royalty. Read on to see every notable actress who wanted to be part of Ariel's world over the years, from movies to TV shows to live musicals and more.

little-mermaid-cartoon-21518-39 — Disney

Jodi Benson

The original Ariel made the character a household name by voicing her back in 1989, in Disney's animated The Little Mermaid movie, but she didn't stop there. Benson stayed a major part of the Disney family and has reprised the role of Ariel over and over again for more than 30 years. First, there was The Little Mermaid animated prequel TV series in 1992, then the film sequel The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea in 2000, and another prequel to complete the trilogy, The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning in 2008 — as well as all Ariel's appearances in the Disney Princess music albums, DVDs, and video games. Benson also lent her voice to the Disney Princesses scenes in 2018's Ralph Breaks the Internet.

Sierra Boggess

Actress and singer Sierra Boggess originated the role of Ariel in The Little Mermaid musical on Broadway, which opened in January 2008. The role was later played by Chelsea Morgan Stock and Michelle Lookadoo.

Julianne Moore

While Julianne Moore never actually played Ariel in a movie, TV show, or other production, she did become the iconic character for Annie Leibovitz's 2008 Disney Dream Portrait Series, along with Michael Phelps as a merman. The photoshoot, which placed celebrities in the roles made famous by classic Disney animated films, turned out otherworldly and instantly sealed Moore's place in the Ariel hall of fame.

JoAnna Garcia Swisher

When Once Upon a Time decided to put its live-action spin on Ariel back in 2013, ABC turned to JoAnna Garcia Swisher. She ended up returning multiple times over the years, for a total of seven episodes. One twist: She never sang.

Sara Bareilles

The Broadway star took on the role of Ariel for The Little Mermaid Live! at the Hollywood Bowl in 2016, showing off her vocal chops (along with that iconic red hair) on stage alongside Darren Criss, John Stamos, Rebel Wilson, and Tituss Burgess. However, when a prior commitment with the Tonys meant she couldn't perform on the last night, Benson (the OG Ariel) ended up taking over for the final performance.

Lea Michele

The Hollywood Bowl went under the sea once more in May of 2019 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the original movie, this time with Glee alum Lea Michele as Ariel. She performed along with Cheech Marin, Peter Gallagher, and Harvey Fierstein.

Auli'i Cravalho

In 2019, Disney aired The Little Mermaid Live! on ABC, combining footage from the original film with live performances of songs from the original movie and from the Broadway show. Auli'i Cravalho, who is also the voice of Disney's Moana, played Ariel in the production, and Jodi Benson was also on hand to introduce the show.

Halle Bailey

In her first leading role, Bailey brought a winning charisma to the part of Ariel — alongside some of her trademark emotive vocals. Despite racist backlash over her casting, Bailey's performance was ultimately among the most heralded elements of the film, with EW's critic raving, "Her Ariel is so radiant that she seems to possess the properties of bioluminescence, absolutely glowing in every scene."