Describe the moment you first walked out on set as Glinda.
Jon (director Jon M Chu) did a speech that morning, and I remember holding Cynthia’s hand and just sobbing as he welcomed the crew. The set was massive, but we were in our dorm room, all holding hands with Jon saying, ‘Welcome to Wicked.’ That was the first day.
You seem to have forged a special friendship with Cynthia, who plays Elphaba.
Cynthia is amazing. She is so talented. She became like a sister to me. And the way she brings her character to life is just incredible. So many amazing women have played these characters, but the way Cynthia brings Elphaba to life is extraordinary.
How did singing as Glinda compare with singing for your fans live on stage or in the recording studio?
Usually when I sing, I’m telling my own story, but this was about disappearing in a way I never do when I am performing. So everything from the way I sing to my movement and physicality had to be completely different. I also did a lot of stunt singing for this, which was different. We had to do some really insane things for this film, but it was so much fun.
Is it true that as a child, you once were taken backstage to meet Glinda after seeing Wicked on Broadway?
That is true. I was 10 years old, and my mom had taken me to see Wicked and then she spoiled me by having me meet the cast. It was actually a prize at the Broadway Cares Equity Fights Aids auction. I kept raising my hand, and my mom was like, ‘Ariana, that’s enough, that’s enough!’ But I kept bidding and she spoiled me. So I got to go backstage and meet the cast, including Kristin Chenoweth, the original Glinda, who I was obsessed with. I remember her dog peed on the couch in her dressing room, and we cleaned it up together (laughs). She gave me a little wand and a little bottle of magic shower gel!
—Asia Features
