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Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, the dynamic duo in Jon M. Chu’s Wicked, truly felt unlimited in their approach to portraying the bond between Elphaba the Wicked Witch and Glinda the Good Witch in Part 1 of the film adaptation of Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman’s Broadway musical.
The pair first met at Erivo’s house for a five-hour chat before testing their vocals together singing at Chu’s house, which allowed them to commit to forming their friendship both on screen and off.
“Both of us made the decision and have had the discussion about really being good to each other, making space for each other, being honest with each other and choosing to build our friendship,” Erivo told Deadline.
They also credited Chu’s enthusiasm on set as another key to the final product.
“Everyone feels the love and the warmth and the respect,” Grande told Deadline. “It’s an environment that allows for magic to happen. It starts at the top. Oh my God. It’s emotional, but I love him. We love him so much.”
In the below interview, the actresses both recalled their earliest memories of exposure to the musical material, how they’ve come “full circle” with the film, working with director Chu and more.
DEADLINE: For both of you, what is your earliest memory of Wicked and how did it feel to step into those roles? How did you bring that first experience into this film?
CYNTHIA ERIVO: My first memory of Wicked was when I was 20 years old at drama school, feeling a little bit odd, feeling a lot a bit out of place. A friend of mine, who spotted that I love music, grabbed a bunch of librettos and said, ‘Hey, do you want to go to a piano room? Let’s sing and play music.’ One of those librettos happened to be Wicked, and we just sung it from front to back. It was the thing that we’d always go back to for three years of drama school, that was the libretto that we’d sing over and over and over again to a point where he would pick songs that he wanted to hear, and we would just sing them.
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Cut to when I was 25, it was my birthday. I finally had enough money to take myself to the theater. Took myself on a solo date to see Wicked and when I left the theater, I floated home because I saw myself, I recognized this woman who didn’t feel like she was the same as everyone, that felt like she was a little bit odd and a little bit out of it. And I just remember thinking, ‘I get that, I understand that.’ And it’s been something I’ve gone back to now. It’s been on my phone forever and ever, and I keep listening to it and now we’re here to do this. There’s been a full circle.
ARIANA GRANDE: My first time seeing Wicked, I was 10 years old, and I am so lucky. I got to see the original Broadway cast. I just remember my life changing and knowing my life in two chapters: before seeing Wicked and after seeing Wicked. That’s really it [laughs], but I just remember being so moved by the story and the humanness and the nuance and the comedy and the singing, and loving the laughter in the audience and being really moved by that and inspired by that, and thinking, ‘Oh my God, I want to make people laugh.’ I love that. Of course, the singing was also a massive appeal, and I loved the story and the sisterhood, but I loved how it made me feel and how it made everyone in the audience feel, and it was infectious, and it became an escape for me, and I always listened to it every single day. Here we are. It’s really full circle and insane.
DEADLINE: Ariana, you’ve been called a comedic genius by your co-star, Ethan [Slater] on The Jennifer Hudson Show. I wanted to ask if you had any specific comedic inspirations for this film, or did you watch any comedies to prepare?
ERIVO: All the comedies.
GRANDE: I’m such a comedy nerd. I mean, I love, I love SNL so much. I love all the Christopher Guest movies. I love all of the Broadway divas. I love Kristin [Chenoweth]. I love Sherie Rene Scott, I love Sutton Foster. I mean this woman right next to me, but I’m a comedy consumer. I love it. I’ve studied it since I was a little girl, doing impersonations for my family and make bits and stand-up for my grandparents. Comedy’s always been a part of my life. But, yeah, no, that’s very kind.
DEADLINE: For both of you, could you recount the first time you met and how you came to form this really strong bond that Wicked highlights so well?
ERIVO: The first time we met was at my house. We sat and chatted for a good few hours — five — and I think we just saw each other immediately. It was really easy. We didn’t have to think about it, we just were there and that has continued. And then we sang together at Jon’s house. That was the first time we’d heard each other together, which was really magical, because you never know how that will go when you have to sing with someone. For some reason, we just connected immediately. Our voices really worked together. And I think from that moment on, we’ve been building, and it’s been the most fruitful relationship of my life.
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GRANDE: Me too. It’s continuing to grow, and it has only grown since day one. We both made the conscious decision when we met to take care of each other, and that’s what we have done in the realest of ways, every step. I always say this, but it’s one of the things that I think we’re most proud of. This whole thing.
DEADLINE: How was the atmosphere on set? How has Jon supported you through making this film?
GRANDE: I think Jon Chu is one of the most incredibly generous leaders in the entire world. Not only is he a genius, visionary and director and art kid — like editing on his laptop on the lunch break, in the car on the way home, not only is he that — but he also conducts the most warm, safe, gracious space in the world, and I think that’s why people feel so comfortable to go there with their performances because he makes everyone feel so safe. It’s so thoughtful. He treats every single person on the set like they are top billing. It’s the best thing ever.
ERIVO: I think he’s one of the kindest people I’ve ever, ever met. There’s a true kid-like excitement about the work, about the people, about the words we get to say, about the music we get to hear every day, so that when we come in, that excitement is infectious. We’re already excited, but when you meet a mind who is also just as open and as free and as excited as you are, really magical things can happen. I hope he’s as proud of this as we are, not just for us, but for him. I think he’s one of, if not the best, directors I have ever worked with, truly, because what he’d allowed us to do, to create, was just truly an honor.
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DEADLINE: Two parter, there’s a special cameo scene in the film. I wanted to ask how that felt for both of you, and also what you’re looking forward to people seeing in Part Two if you can tease anything?
GRANDE: Are we allowed?
ERIVO: I don’t know if we can tease a part two.
GRANDE: There are so many things.
ERIVO: There are a lot of things in two. The cameo was delightful, and we were really glad that they could be there. We were spoiled by it. I felt like they arrived right at the right moment.
GRANDE: Yes.
ERIVO: It was a really special thing for us to experience. As for two, you will have to wait. It is coming, and we are very proud of it.
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