Ariana Grande has received widespread praise for her portrayal of Glinda in the highly anticipated fantasy film Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu. Sharing the screen with talents like Cynthia Erivo and Michelle Yeoh, Grande’s performance is one of the film’s standout elements. Despite her illustrious career as a pop icon, the role of Glinda didn’t come easy—she had to undergo an intense audition process to secure the part.
Grande opened up about her journey to landing the role, emphasizing the importance of earning it. She revealed, “People who didn’t understand would say, ‘Oh, that’s so silly, they know how talented you are,’ and I was like, ‘That’s very nice, but Glinda requires so much. I have to be able to earn this, and I don’t want it unless I’ve earned it.’” She explained how the audition process allowed her to discover more about herself, saying, “It became this beautiful evolution of getting to know myself beneath it all. I was like, ‘Oh my goodness, I love this person underneath the drag.’”
Jon M. Chu, the film’s director, wasn’t swayed by Grande’s fame but rather focused on her creativity, expression, and emotional depth. Producer Marc Platt revealed that Grande had been persistently expressing interest in the film for years, saying, “Ariana Grande stalked me for 10 years, more or less,” adding that she would inquire about the project whenever she heard it was in the works.
After years of persistence and determination, Grande finally secured the role of Glinda, and Wicked is now poised to be a major success when it hits streaming platforms. Fans can look forward to seeing her bring this iconic character to life with the same passion and commitment she’s shown throughout her career.