Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty
Lily James,Halle Bailey, andNaomi Scottlooked like the belles of the ball while presenting the Best Animated Feature category at the 94th Academy Awards.
“The three of us have all had the privilege of bringing a beloved animated character to the live screen,” said James, 32, at the presentation’s start.
James played Cinderella, Scott played Princess Jasmine, and Bailey will play Ariel in the upcoming live-actionLittle Mermaidmovie. TheCinderellaactress andAladdinstar excitedly welcomed the Grammy-nominated singer to the Disney princess club during the trio’s time onstage atthe Oscars.
“Soon, Halle will join the club as Ariel inThe Little Mermaid,” said Scott, 28, while presenting. “Welcome babe.”
“All these characters hold such a special place in our hearts because animated films make up some of our most formative movie experiences as kids,” explained Bailey, 22.
James, Bailey, and Scott proceeded to read out the Best Animated Feature nominees in the category —Encanto, Flee, Luca, The Mitchells vs. the Machines,andRaya and the Last Dragon— after the bonding moment.
The women announcedEncanto as the Best Animated Feature winner.
Encantoproducer Yvett Merino said in her acceptance speech, “I am so proud to be a part of a film that puts beautiful, diverse characters in front and center, and that people everywhere are seeing themselves in the film.”
Disneyannouncedin July 2019 that Bailey would be taking on the role of Ariel. On the red carpet for the94th annual Academy Awards,she explained that “Part of Your World” in the live-actionThe Little Mermaidwas “of course"her favorite song to sing.
James' first gained fame for her role onDownton Abbeybeforeher breakout film rolein 2015 when she starred as the titular Disney princess in the live-action adaptation ofCinderella. Most recently, she playedPamela Andersonin Hulu’sPam & Tommy.
Scott acted in the 2019 live-action version ofDisney’sAladdin, which also starredWill Smithas Genie. This yearshe will join Anthony Ramos in sci-fi comedyDistant.
source: people.com
