Although multiple actors attempted to land the role, Ariana Grande got one of the most coveted roles in Hollywood: Galinda/Glinda in Wicked. Eternalized on Broadway by Kristin Chenoweth, the actor got a Tony Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Musical, but most importantly, she is the version that the audiences think of when hearing about the stage play. Grande faced a massive challenge, giving life to a character that already had a loved incarnation. And it was an uphill climb because before the major gig, the actor was known for her work on the Nickelodeon TV shows, Victorious, and Sam & Cat.
On film, Grande’s previous credits were primarily music documentaries, Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry and Nothing Compares, as well as cameos in comedies such as Don’t Look Up and Zoolander No. 2. Grande was up to the challenge for the new blockbuster and garnered massive acclaim for her performance as Glinda, the Good. She even receieved a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at this year’s Academy Awards, one of the ten that the film received. In Wicked: For Good, Grande is as impressive as in the first part. She potentiates the role with her comic timing and the dramatic range, particularly in the musical sequences.
Movies We Texted About had the opportunity to talk to Grande in an exclusive interview on Zoom. Read the chat below.
The Interview with Ariana Grande of Wicked: For Good
Editor’s Note: The following has been edited for clarity.
Pedro Lima: Hi, Ariana. I’m Pedro from Movies We Texted About
Ariana Grande: Hi, Pedro. Ari, nice to meet you. Nice to see you.
Pedro Lima: Nice to see you.
Pedro Lima: First, I would like to ask you about, the film was shot all at once, both parts, and I would like to know what changed from filming the first part to the second. What changed to your approach as Glinda?
Ariana Grande: So we shot both at the same time and I had to do a lot of dancing back and forth between movie one and movie two, even in the same week. So my approach was kind of the same for both of them, so that I could be sort of honestly navigating between one and two. I just wanted to get to know her as well as humanly possible. I wanted to have a genuine understanding of who she was at her core, get to know, think about maybe what her childhood was like, things that maybe you never see in the movie. I just had to know them so that when it came to doing the work, showing up for the scenes on set, I could just be her and be listening and responding.
Pedro Lima: Feel it
Ariana Grande: Yeah.
Pedro Lima: And another question that I have is because this film has two new songs, two original songs for the film, No Place Like Home, and the Girl in the Bubble. I’d like to know we already know Popular, Defying Gravity, For Good, but what were your reactions? What were some of your impressions when you first heard both of these songs by Stephen Schwartz?
Ariana Grande: Well, I was very intimidated by the idea of new music in Wicked, because I am somewhat of a purist. I have grown up loving this. And for us to go astray was so nerve-wracking, but when I heard them I thought, oh my goodness, of course this makes so much sense. These girls, these characters need these songs. It’s such a gift to be able to experience these pivotal moments in their narratives via song. And so thankful for the brilliant and wonderful Stephen Schwartz and grateful to have been trusted with the responsibility of originating these songs. It’s really crazy and I’m just so grateful that they were these narrative moments that had so much heart in them. Yeah, I think that’s what makes them most special.
Pedro Lima: Okay. And lastly, you said that you were a purist. You are a big fan of the musical.
Pedro Lima: I would like to ask you, because you said you were a big fan, and I would like to know how was for you to complete this saga and how really is it for the world to see it? Because it’s been 10 years in production trying to adapt this story. So how is for you as a big fan to have finally accomplished this major mission?
Ariana Grande: Well, it feels very different than being a fan now. I think there is a big difference between loving something and then becoming it and experiencing it and living it. And I just feel a deep sense of pride and gratitude to have been a part of this and to be the movie’s world, Glinda. That’s something that I don’t take lightly and I’ll cherish forever. So I’m very grateful.
Pedro Lima: Thank you so much, Ariana
Ariana Grande: Thank you, bye.
Wicked: For Good is now in theaters.
Learn more about the film at the IMDB site for the title.
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