H.E.R. is set to star as Belle, the confident bookworm princess, in ABC’s upcoming animated and live-action adaption of Beauty and the Beast. The two-hour live production will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the animated film that debuted in 1991.
As the first Black-Filipina Belle, H.E.R. is thrilled to make history and bring her interpretation of the beloved princess to audiences across the world.
“I can’t believe I get to be a part of the Beauty and the Beast legacy. I have always wanted to be a Disney princess, and I get to work with two wonderful directors Hamish Hamilton and my favorite, Jon M. Chu. It is very surreal and I couldn’t be more grateful,” said H.E.R.
Chu, named executive producer, added, “With her obvious extraordinary talent and stage presence, H.E.R. is the perfect embodiment of our Belle and we are thrilled for audiences to see her in this celebration of creativity.
We were both influenced as storytellers by the original animated movie, so it’s very exciting to collaborate together to honor the artistry of that timeless classic while also inspiring a whole new generation of creators.”
Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration premieres on Thursday, Dec. 15, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and on Disney+ the next day.
H.E.R. is also a part of the forthcoming Warner Bros. musical adaption of Color Purple, due out Dec. 2023. The Grammy and Oscar winner will make her acting debut as Squeak, alongside other noteworthy actors and musicians such as Ciara (adult Nettie), Halle Bailey (young Nettie), Fantasia (Celie), Danielle Brooks (Sofia), Corey Hawkins (Harpo), Taraji P. Henson (Shug Avery), among others.
Beyond accepting acting roles, H.E.R. has not neglected music. She recently had a feature (“Closure”) on Chris Brown’s latest album Breezy, as well as on singles for Saweetie (“Closer“), Mary J. Blige (“Good Morning Gorgeous Remix“) and Coi Leray (“Overthinking“).
Regarding H.E.R.’s material, she hasn’t missed out on accolades and nominations. Back of My Mind, her proper debut album, released just last June, was nominated for Best R&B Album and Album of the Year, while the 2x multi-platinum single “Damage” spawned a pair of considerations.
In addition to collecting 2022 Grammy nominations, H.E.R. racked up a handful of certifications from the RIAA, including gold awards for “Come Together” featuring Chris Brown and Jazmine Sullivan’s “Girl Like Me.” She also gained a 2x multi-platinum plaque for “Focus” following the news that she became the global ambassador for L’Oréal Paris.