Ariana Grande's journey with "Wicked" is a captivating tale, almost as enchanting as the story itself. It all began with a young Ariana, just 10 years old, witnessing the Broadway adaptation of Gregory Maguire's unique take on "The Wizard of Oz." This experience became her lifelong dream, a dream that, remarkably, came true.
In a 2010 interview, a then-17-year-old Ariana, who was yet to become the pop icon we know today, expressed her desire to play Elphaba in "Wicked." Fast forward, and while she didn't portray Elphaba, she embodied Glinda, the 'good witch,' with Cynthia Erivo taking on the role of Elphaba. This dream role earned Ariana her first Oscar nomination and recognition at various award ceremonies.
Now, Ariana finds herself at a crossroads, much like Dorothy in the classic film. After dedicating five years to "Wicked," she's asking herself, "What's next for me as an actor?" Ariana reflects on her journey, saying, "It's time to put this beautiful chapter on a shelf, next to the other L. Frank Baum books I cherish."
However, moving on isn't easy. Ariana's portrayal of Glinda has become as iconic as Kristin Chenoweth's original performance. To prepare for the role, Ariana had to reinvent herself, stepping away from her globally recognized pop star persona.
"The journey to 'Wicked' was challenging," Ariana shares. "I had to convince people that I could disappear into the character."
As an early adopter of social media, Ariana's first step was to create a bubble, shutting out the noise and staying focused on her craft. She adopted the Stella Adler acting philosophy, imagining every detail of Glinda's life to deliver an authentic performance.
"I wanted to make Glinda as human as possible," Ariana explains. "I wanted to understand her as deeply as I understand myself."
To track Glinda's emotional journey, Ariana used sticky tabs of different colors, each representing a different feeling. This method helped her navigate Glinda's complex character arc.
In one memorable scene from "Wicked: For Good," Glinda, played by Ariana, experiences a traumatic event when her fiancé, Prince Fiyero, elopes with Elphaba. Ariana explains, "I had to imagine all the times they were together without me. I created backstories to reference, so when I said, 'Use her sister,' I was remembering these moments for the first time."
Ariana's meticulous preparation paid off, and she still treasures her notes and tabs, a "treasure trove" of memories.
Now, Ariana is ready to discuss her future projects. She's excited about "Focker In-Law," where she gets to work with the legendary Robert De Niro. "It was an emotional experience," she shares. "I felt like he was part of my Italian family."
Ariana is also gearing up for the Eternal Sunshine Tour, where she'll showcase her pop star persona, and a revival of "Sunday in the Park With George" on the West End, reuniting with her "Wicked" co-star, Jonathan Bailey.
When asked about her love for horror, Ariana lights up, mentioning "The Ring" and "Psycho." She's even considering leading a horror movie, saying, "Fingers crossed!"
"Wicked" taught Ariana the power of manifestation, but she also learned that success isn't magic; it's hard work. "The nervous monsters" of self-doubt are always present, but Ariana sees them as a gift, motivating her to work harder.
"Caring deeply is a beautiful gift," she says. "It's what has driven my career."
As Ariana moves forward, she carries a key lesson from Glinda: "Good" is doing the work, and the rest is just noise. She celebrates her achievements but stays connected to her roots, remembering the little girl who taught herself vocal production on GarageBand.
Ariana Grande's "Wicked" era may be over, but her journey as an actor is far from finished.
