Hair: Pete Burkill
Makeup: Brooke Turnbull
Styling: Natalie Roar
When Jess Alexander auditioned for The Little Mermaid, she wasn’t sure she would get called back since it’s such a massive film. But after working on a tape in her friend’s apartment in North London, she got a call back from her agents the day after Halloween to tell her they needed to meet in person. The star was very “nervous” for what they were about to say, but everything ended up working out in her favor because she was later offered the role. “I was dying for an answer! It’s a horrible limbo to sit in as an actor,” the 23-year-old exclusively tells GRAZIA USA. “After I went to the actual meeting, I had a good feeling in my heart and stomach about it, but I suppressed it because I didn’t want to get too excited.”
In the movie, which comes out on Friday, May 26, and is directed by Rob Marshall, Ariel (played by Halle Bailey) is a beautiful mermaid who loves adventure, but when she ventures out into the world, she meets dashing Prince Eric and also gets entangled with an evil sea witch Ursula (played by Melissa McCarthy) to live as a normal girl on land. For her part, Alexander is Vanessa, Ursula’s villainous human persona.
“Melissa shot a majority of her stuff after I shot in London, and it was during COVID, so I looked it at like a separate character but also one that is going to support her performance, too. I went into it with the mindset of, ‘Go big or go home.’ I just went for it. It was a little bit of a demonic ferocious moment, and it worked. It’s a really cool character to play.”
The blonde beauty was always a fan of the original movie, which came out in 1989, and she was enthralled by Prince Eric. “I thought he was my boyfriend! I thought Ariel was an iconic little baddy. I’m a big believer in that women have this sort of power within us. I tried to stay true to the character and modernized it a little,” she says.
Hair: Pete Burkill
Makeup: Brooke Turnbull
Styling: Natalie Roar
Unfortunately, Alexander and McCarthy didn’t get to film together despite both playing Ursula, but she was enamored with the costumes. “It was really fun. I usually play women who don’t wear much makeup and dress very casually, so this was a nice change,” she notes, adding that this experience has been a “full circle moment” for her since she grew up watching the beloved flick. “My parents felt really proud and they supported me to get where I am now. It’s an honor to be part of this story and support the film. Everyone’s so committed to their roles, and this was a masterclass in acting.”
“I’ve seen the movies three times now, and the first time I watched it, my mouth hurt from smiling so much,” she gushes, adding that acting alongside Bailey was a dream come true. “I wish I had gotten to work with her more! She makes it look so easy.”
Alexander was longlisted on the BIFA’s Best Breakthrough Performance for her role in A Banquet, a thriller movie which was released in 2021. “That was really cool,” she reflects. “It’s an amazing nod for someone like me who is growing up in the British film industry. That meant a lot to me. The films I did before A Banquet were small, independent movies, and now doing The Little Mermaid, it allowed me to have these stepping stones in order to get to this moment. I proved to myself I was capable of playing intense and very complex characters, which is kind of the joy of independent filmmaking.”
Despite getting into grittier roles, Alexander is interested in breaking out into the comedy world. “I would love to do anything and everything, to be honest. I get asked, ‘What do you want to do next?’ I say, ‘Everything!’ All of my roles so far have been different — I hope that never goes away. I’m also a massive rom-com fan, and I’d love to do an action movie. I like fighting!” she quips. “I’m a massive sci-fi fan, so somewhere in that realm would be awesome.”
Hair: Pete Burkill
Makeup: Brooke Turnbull
Styling: Natalie Roar
Besides focusing on The Little Mermaid, Alexander recently shot a TV show, where she lived in Hungary, Budapest, for about four to five months. “It’s a supernatural young adult drama with a lot of action, so that was really fun,” she says about her venture to the small screen. “We’re seeing the biggest actors in Hollywood doing TV shows right now, and it’s never mattered to me what format as a story comes in. I’d love to do more TV, especially since you get to spend more time with a character and you have a longer arc.”
Whatever Alexander has up her sleeve next, she’s looking forward to breaking out even more in the business. “I’m ready for the next chapter. I’ve been grinding for a long time — nearly 10 years now! I feel like I am just getting started. Whatever comes my way, I am ready for it.”
The Little Mermaid is now out in theaters.
