Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Understand the Significance of Glinda and Elphaba for Wicked enthusiasts
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Understand the Significance of Glinda and Elphaba for Wicked enthusiasts
The emotional promo tour for the movie "Wicked" carries on during award season, with the film now accessible through its digital release. Let me tell you, at this point, mocking Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo's displays of sisterhood feels stale for anyone who hasn't worked on back-to-back films and belted out the musical's famous tunes live on stage.
These women transformed into Elphaba and Glinda for their fans, and it's evident in their performances. In a chat with Variety, the two divulged their transformations—particularly Grande. As one of the world's most renowned pop stars, she had to lose her signature look to fit into the role, possibly rediscovering her inner theater kid who'd always dreamt of a lifetime role.
"Perhaps people underestimate the time we spent embodying these women," Grande told the publication. "So when certain mannerisms take time to fade away, some people jest. But we had a job to do, and we had things to get lost in—because that's what the character required."
She also mentioned that she'd likely carry the Old Hollywood accent she adopted as Glinda with her into her next phase. "I think that might stick," she said, specifically referring to her new Old Hollywood drawl. "Glinda required a lot of vocal work from me. Certain things probably won't fade away. Some will, but I'm grateful for the parts that will stay with us forever. It's a beautiful sentiment to be left with—and to feel the ghost of every day."
For Erivo, playing Elphaba meant representing those who've felt marginalized. Since the movie's release, she's been moved by the love for the Ozdust Ballroom scene. Anyone who's ever felt like an outcast recognized Elphaba's discomfort upon entering the social gathering amidst Ozians and Shiz students. "I talked to a friend the other day," Erivo shared, "and he confirmed that I was bullied. This scene gave me the chance to revisit, process, feel it again, and share it." And the scene where Galinda joins her on the dance floor to accept her, became the heart of the film's message of belonging.
To Grande, that scene contrasted with the film's opening, showcasing the importance of sisterhood and allyship. "The opening scene has Elphaba setting an effigy of her friend alight, just like in The Wicker Man," she said of the emotionally challenging task. "Much like how hard the Ozdust felt for you, that's how it felt to set you alight a million times over!"
As a true fan of "Wicked," Grande reminisced about the tale's enduring message: the radical idea that we should stand together with those we love, no matter how different they may be, in the face of the Emerald City's glossy facade of fascism hiding behind the curtain. "When Wicked first debuted on Broadway," Grande recalled, "people in my life were having that exact conversation. It's time for people to ask, 'How can I be a better ally?' Because that's how we've always survived—through those friendships and those allies."
Erivo added, "The thing that keeps coming back to me is how much people need it," she said. "It provides people permission to think of themselves as helpers. It might not be easy, but it's not impossible. That's the sort of thing that resonates."
Wicked is currently in theaters and is also available digitally.
In the future of entertainment, we can expect more digital releases of movies like "Wicked," leveraging technology to make films more accessible. Embracing new roles often requires individuals to step out of their comfort zone, as Ariana Grande discovered when transforming into Glinda.
As technology advances, it opens up opportunities for diverse representations in media, allowing actors like Cynthia Erivo to resonate with audiences who've felt marginalized.