Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande

INTERVIEW | ‘I have never wanted anything more’: Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande speaks to Katie Ellis about landing her dream role of Glinda in Wicked, taking voice and acting lessons, and developing a special bond with co-star Cynthia Erivo
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How much pressure is there to bring a show as loved as Wicked to the big screen?

There is always an incredible amount of pressure doing anything with something as beloved as Wicked. But, I am a diehard fan too. I love the show, and this film takes the tradition of what we have loved over the past 20 years, and finds new truths and depth to the characters.

You won the part of Glinda against some stiff opposition. How did you feel when you were told the role was yours?

Amazing. It was the best day of my life. It was six months of auditions and prepping. I was shooting The Voice at the same time, so it was a lot. But (voice coach) Nancy Banks and (acting coach) Eric Vetro got me through. I worked with them every single day while also doing The Voice. It was tough but fun.

It’s hard to imagine anyone else as Glinda now. Did you always know you were perfect for the role?

Not at all. I was just thankful to get an audition. I had been asking (Wicked producer) Marc Platt for an audition from when I was 20. I knew the movie was happening, and it was my dream just to audition. I have never wanted anything more. So, to actually get the role was beyond anything I could have wished for.

What is it like to see yourself up on screen in a fully realised Oz?

So surreal. To see the movie, and to feel the response from the fans from the moment the first trailer was released, has just been overwhelming. Just being on set felt like being in Oz because almost everything was actually built and practical. Now to see yourself on screen with flying monkeys and everything else is just amazing.

What was your favourite thing about being in Oz?

Everything! I enjoyed every single minute of the two years it took to shoot the movie. It was a long time, and I learned so much. To share Oz with such special people and to feel the love we have received from fans is my favourite thing about being in Oz. It really is magical.

Describe the moment you first walked out on set as Glinda.

Jon (director Jon M Chu) did a speech that morning, and I remember holding Cynthia’s hand and just sobbing as he welcomed the crew. The set was massive, but we were in our dorm room, all holding hands with Jon saying, ‘Welcome to Wicked.’ That was the first day.

You seem to have forged a special friendship with Cynthia, who plays Elphaba.

Cynthia is amazing. She is so talented. She became like a sister to me. And the way she brings her character to life is just incredible. So many amazing women have played these characters, but the way Cynthia brings Elphaba to life is extraordinary.

How did singing as Glinda compare with singing for your fans live on stage or in the recording studio?

Usually when I sing, I’m telling my own story, but this was about disappearing in a way I never do when I am performing. So everything from the way I sing to my movement and physicality had to be completely different. I also did a lot of stunt singing for this, which was different. We had to do some really insane things for this film, but it was so much fun.

Is it true that as a child, you once were taken backstage to meet Glinda after seeing Wicked on Broadway?

That is true. I was 10 years old, and my mom had taken me to see Wicked and then she spoiled me by having me meet the cast. It was actually a prize at the Broadway Cares Equity Fights Aids auction. I kept raising my hand, and my mom was like, ‘Ariana, that’s enough, that’s enough!’ But I kept bidding and she spoiled me. So I got to go backstage and meet the cast, including Kristin Chenoweth, the original Glinda, who I was obsessed with. I remember her dog peed on the couch in her dressing room, and we cleaned it up together (laughs). She gave me a little wand and a little bottle of magic shower gel!

—Asia Features

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The New Indian Express
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