H.E.R. and Josh Groban Talk About Making “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration” - ABC

Becoming Belle gave the “Fight For You” singer a chance to explore a different side to herself. For an artist who enjoys challenging herself, this role offered the opportunity to show the true range of her talent.

Advertisement
Advertisement

“There are so many things that Belle has changed [about] me [in the] best ways—and just embracing what femininity is to me,” she said. “It was nice to discover something within myself I didn’t know that I had, and that’s the Disney princess.”

She didn’t want her Belle to feel like a carbon copy of other portrayals. Belle is an independent woman. She’s not a damsel in distress, so embodying her spirit was important to the “Best Part” artist.

“[My vision] was to of course stay true to the character. But like I said, there’s a strength in her that I wanted to bring out,” H.E.R. said. “I think me being Belle alone and looking the way that I do and coming from a Filipino and Black background was enough because it’s a different face, it’s a different representation for young girls to see.”

It was also important to the Emmy-winner that her Filipino background be central to the role. “They even made my father Filipino and that’s rare. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything on this level, where Filipinos were being recognized and it’s very special,” she said. “I did a really cool nod on my costume to my Filipino heritage, so I’m excited for people to see that. But just me being me alone and being in that position is a lot, so I’m proud of that.”

Advertisement
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: A 30TH CELEBRATION – (ABC/Christopher Willard) H.E.R., JON JON BRIONES
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: A 30TH CELEBRATION – (ABC/Christopher Willard) H.E.R., JON JON BRIONES
Photo: ABC/Christopher Willard

H.E.R. stars as Belle, with Josh Groban as the Beast and Joshua Henry as Gaston in Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration airing Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. It will be available to stream on Disney+ the following day.