The phenomenal start of “Wicked” at the Anglo-Saxon box office is the culmination of a childhood dream for Ariana Grande. The superstar with 376 million subscribers on Instagram was captivated at the age of 10 by the show which has been a hit on Broadway since 2003, now adapted for the screen in two parts, the first of which is coming out soon. She fought tooth and nail through several auditions to be cast in this prequel to “The Wizard of Oz,” a masterpiece of the seventh art released in 1939.
During a press conference in London, the four-octave singer spoke about her intensive training to play Glinda, the Good Witch of the South in the fantastical world of Oz. “I had to learn to sing very differently because the role of Glinda is written for a coloratura soprano voice in a classical style. It's not like when I sing really high or use whistle vocals in my pop songs. As with any muscle you exercise, it takes time to get your vocal cords used to doing what you want. So I started working with my singing teacher two months before the first audition. At the same time, I worked with an acting coach because I wanted to be ready to give everything for this role.
“Wicked” – a word that means both “wicked” and “brilliant” in English – chronicles the unlikely friendship formed by Glinda and Elpheba in the world of Oz long before Dorothy arrived. The first looks like a Barbie. She is blonde, pretty, popular and has a penchant for pink. The second, played by British actress Cynthia Erivo, was born with green skin and scares people, but has great magical powers which will make her The Wicked Witch of the West.
In the story, the two young women meet at Shiz University, the equivalent of Hogwarts in the world of Oz, where they are forced to be roommates. The idol of the “Arianators” explains the trajectory of his character in this story which calls for us not to trust appearances. “At first, Glinda is a very self-centered person, just because she was raised that way. Her biggest fear is that people won't like her or that she isn't the most popular girl on campus. But his relationship with Elpheba leads him to change and fear above all harming others.
Ari, as she is nicknamed, looks visibly moved as she talks about her complicity with Cynthia Erivo and the rest of the film crew whom she describes as “family”. Perhaps because she was able to rely on her colleagues to overcome a turbulent period in her private life. Ariana is divorced from actor Dalton Gomez and is in a relationship with comedian Ethan Slater. The latter plays a Munchkin in love with Glinda in the film and also separated from his wife who had just given birth to their first child.
In 2023, the 31-year-old American was therefore the target of a surge of hatred on the networks and saw herself labeled a “husband stealer”. But this hubbub already seems far away after his bewitching performance and the success of the film, the second part of which will be released in November 2025.
Are you already following us on WhatsApp?
Subscribe to our channel, activate the little ???? and you will receive a news recap every day in early evening.
