Grammy award winning singer H.E.R. is set to become a Disney princess. The talented musician has been cast to play Belle in the upcoming ABC’s Beauty and the Beast special for the film’s 30th anniversary.
ABC announced the news on Wednesday, sharing a statement from H.E.R. on the casting. The 25-year-old R&B singer spoke about the joy of stepping into the iconic Disney role.
“I can’t believe I get to be a part of the Beauty and the Beast legacy,” H.E.R., real name Gabriella Wilson, said. “The world will see a Black and Filipino Belle!”
“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.”
This will be one of two acting roles H.E.R will be taking on. She’s currently filming in Georgia for the new Color Purple movie set to release in 2023. She’s playing the role of Shug Avery.
Beauty and the Beast is the first animated film to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar at the 64th Academy Awards in 1992 and received five total nominations. The film won the Academy Award for Best Original Score and Best Original Song, “Beauty and the Beast.”
H.E.R.’s self-titled debut 2017 album was nominated for five Grammy Awards, winning for Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Album.
The artist’s second album “I Used to Know Her” was nominated for five Grammys, with her single ”I Can’t Breathe” winning for Song of the Year.
Her song for the Judas and the Black Messiah soundtrack titled “Fight For You” won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance.
From singing to acting…H.E.R. is having an amazing career!
Congratulations!
