Ariana Grande’s journey with Wicked is nothing short of a modern fairy tale—one that began with a young girl’s dream and culminated in a dazzling chapter of her career. But now that the curtain has closed on her time in Oz, the question lingers: What’s next for this multifaceted star?
From the moment she first saw the Broadway musical at age 10, Grande was captivated by Wicked, an adaptation of Gregory Maguire’s reimagined prequel to The Wizard of Oz. This obsession became a recurring theme in her interviews, including a 2010 conversation with Backstage (then Back Stage), where the 17-year-old Nickelodeon star declared, ‘I would love to play Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway.’ Fast forward to 2024, and while she didn’t land the green-skinned role—that went to Cynthia Erivo—she instead became Glinda, the ‘good witch,’ in Jon M. Chu’s two-part film adaptation. This role earned her an Oscar nomination and accolades from the BAFTAs, Golden Globes, and more.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Grande’s transition from pop icon to Glinda wasn’t seamless. She had to shed her globally recognized image—the high ponytail, the winged eyeliner—and prove she could embody a character so unlike her public persona. ‘I had to deconstruct the pop star Ariana that everyone knew,’ she admits. This involved stepping away from social media, her usual lifeline to fans, and immersing herself in the work. ‘I had to shut out the noise,’ she says, referring to the skeptics who doubted her ability to take on such a role.
Her approach to acting is deeply rooted in the Stella Adler technique, which emphasizes an outside-in method. ‘I imagine every detail of Glinda’s life,’ she explains, ‘so the performance feels truthful.’ This meant creating an extensive backstory for Glinda, even beyond what L. Frank Baum had written. She used color-coded sticky tabs to track Glinda’s emotional arc, asking herself questions like, ‘Is she performing, or is her guard down?’ This meticulous preparation paid off, especially in Wicked: For Good, where Glinda’s betrayal of Elphaba reveals a complex, flawed humanity. ‘I had to write scenes that aren’t even in the movie,’ Grande reveals, ‘just to understand why she’d say something so cruel.’
And this is the part most people miss: Beneath Glinda’s glittering exterior lies a character grappling with loss and insecurity—traits Grande connected with on a personal level. ‘I can love her through her worst moments because I’ve experienced similar ones,’ she says. Yet, she was careful not to let her own pain overshadow Glinda’s. ‘I wanted to have her pain available,’ she explains, ‘so I didn’t have to reference mine.’
Now, as she steps away from Wicked, Grande is embracing new challenges. She’s returning to music with the Eternal Sunshine Tour, reuniting with Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey for a West End revival of Sunday in the Park With George, and even dipping into horror—a genre she’s passionate about. ‘I would love to lead a horror movie,’ she says with a smile. ‘Fingers crossed.’
But what’s most striking is her philosophy on success. ‘Good is doing the work, and the rest is noise,’ she reflects. This mindset keeps her grounded, connected to the little girl who dreamed of Wicked in Boca Raton, Florida. ‘I celebrate the good things,’ she says, ‘but I don’t let them disconnect me from who I am.’
Here’s a thought-provoking question for you: As Grande moves forward, will her ability to balance intense focus with vulnerability continue to define her career? Or will she surprise us all by reinventing herself yet again? Let’s discuss in the comments!
