Ariana Grande’s determination to portray Glinda the Good Witch in Wicked was nothing short of intense. So intense, in fact, that she joked about her fate if she hadn’t landed the role: “If it hadn’t happened, I might have ended up in an insane asylum,” she shared at a panel event in Hollywood on November 10 following a screening of the upcoming movie. Directed by Jon M. Chu, Wicked is set to hit theaters on November 22, and Grande’s performance as Glinda is among the most anticipated in the film.

Grande, who is credited under her full name, Ariana Grande-Butera, dedicated months to preparing for her audition, adapting her voice and diving deeply into the character’s essence. “Vocally, it’s very different for me than what I usually sing, so I started training every single day with my vocal coach for two-and-a-half, three months before my first audition,” she explained. “I just wanted to be prepared to use any tool needed... to really become her.” For Grande, this role was so significant that she paused her other projects to focus solely on it.

The Support of Wicked’s Director and Producer

Director Jon M. Chu acknowledged the challenge Grande faced. Her fame as a pop star initially raised questions about whether she could truly disappear into a character. “Does she really know what it takes to carry a movie? Does she know what it takes to be inside a character?” he wondered. But once she began her audition, Chu was stunned: “I couldn’t believe what I was watching. She’s not talking like Ariana Grande. She’s not singing like Ariana Grande.”

Chu also recalled seeing Grande’s dedication as he observed her driving in circles, blasting Wicked’s “One Short Day” on repeat. When Grande realized Chu had noticed her, she laughed, saying, “I didn’t know you had seen me or heard me.”

A Special Bond with Co-Star Cynthia Erivo

Grande and Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba, the Wicked Witch, established an immediate bond from the moment they met at Erivo’s home. Over shared snacks, including berries, they found common ground and forged a friendship that would carry them through the intense filming process. “We just giggled and I felt an immediate safety,” Grande said. “And then we kind of made a pact to really take care of each other.”

Erivo added, “To be really honest with each other... to make space for each other.” The bond they developed was a source of comfort and support. Grande recalled, “I almost sh-t in my pants. But she’s just the warmest human being. We were just so open immediately with each other.”

Preparing for the Role of a Lifetime

For Grande, Wicked has been a project close to her heart, and she approached the role with a seriousness and dedication that impressed both her co-stars and the production team. Her transformation into Glinda, both in terms of voice and character, is anticipated to be a standout in a film that promises to bring a beloved story to new life.