Noma Dumezweni

The actress, 26, is currently appearing in the forthcoming BBC drama Best Interests, which is set in Cheltenham, alongside Sharon Horgan and Michael Sheen. Parents Andrew and Nicci are battling to determine the fate of their disabled daughter Marnie (played by Niamh Moriarty) in the new episode, which aired last night. Marnie, who was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy as a child, was the first of a four-part series, and she had a serious heart arrest. As a result of this, the 13-year-old is brain damaged and totally dependent on a ventilator for her survival. After Samantha (played by Noma Dumezweni) suggests removing the child from life support, Nicci fights the hospital's stubbornness. Andrew, on the other hand, finds himself agreeing with the medical team's decision and refuses to appear in court, leaving their daughter Katie in the middle. Michael Sheen and Alison Oliver were photographed. Inset: Fans praise the 'superb' performances on Twitter

Halle Bailey, who plays Ariel in "The Little Mermaid" isn't just another box to tick off on her list of accomplishments, it's much more than that. With her role in the forthcoming live-action film, the 22-year-old is making history by becoming the first Black actor to appear in Ariel and the second to be named a Disney princess (Anika Noni Rose, who appeared Tiana in 2009's "The Princess and the Frog," was the first). She's very aware of the responsibilities that go along with it. "It's about time that a Black woman plays a role like this," says a woman who is merely a member of this wonderful neighborhood. Bailey says, "we should have photographs that look like us and see ourselves in the media on big screens and everything." "I'm just grateful that we're finally embarking on such large projects."

The live-action version of Disney's "The Little Mermaid" is finally here, and although the bulk of the film is unknown, we already know how it will differ from the 1989 version in several ways. Halle Bailey, the lead in the film, is another in Disney's expanding series of remakes. In a 20 December interview with Entertainment Weekly, director Rob Marshall said that the latest film will give Ariel a little more agency than the original, although he doesn't see it as a major departure. "The character goes back to Hans Christian Andersen of another century, but it looks in some ways like a very modern woman, someone who sees her life differently than others around her," he said. However, "the fire is very important" to Ariel's latest film, he said, adding, "her passion is extremely important." "She feels displaced, and it's really an epic tale about discovering your authentic self," he told. But also there needs to be a lot of joy. It's a strange combination of youth and wisdom, as well as a slew of soul and heart. "She is so modern."