Ariana Grande’s journey with Wicked is nothing short of a modern fairy tale—one that began with a 10-year-old girl’s dream and culminated in Oscar nominations, global acclaim, and a transformative chapter in her career. But here’s where it gets controversial: Is Grande’s success in Wicked a triumph of talent, or did her pop star persona overshadow her acting chops? Let’s dive in.
From the moment she first saw the Broadway musical, Grande was captivated by the story of Elphaba, the misunderstood green-skinned witch. In a 2010 interview with Backstage—when she was just 17 and a Nickelodeon star—she declared, ‘I would love to play Elphaba in ‘Wicked’ on Broadway. That’s like my main one.’ Fast forward to 2024, and while she didn’t land the role of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo took that honor), she instead became Glinda, the ‘good witch,’ in Jon M. Chu’s film adaptation. And this is the part most people miss: Grande’s portrayal wasn’t just a career highlight—it was a reinvention.
The road to Wicked wasn’t easy. Grande had to shed her pop star image, built on high ponytails and winged eyeliner, to convince the world she could embody Glinda. ‘I had to do a lot of deconstructing to convince people I could disappear into her,’ she admits. This meant stepping away from social media, the very tool she once used to connect with fans, and immersing herself in the character. ‘I had to shut out the noise and stay locked in and present in the work,’ she explains.
Her approach to acting is deeply rooted in the Stella Adler method, which emphasizes an outside-in approach. ‘I wanted to know Glinda as well as I know myself,’ Grande says. She meticulously mapped out Glinda’s emotional arc using color-coded sticky tabs on her scripts, asking herself questions like, ‘Is she performing, or is her guard down?’ This level of preparation paid off, especially in Glinda’s most unlikable moments, like when she betrays Elphaba in Wicked: For Good. ‘I had to figure out what would lead her to say that,’ Grande reveals, ‘I had to write a backstory that you don’t even see in the movies.’
Now, with Wicked behind her, Grande is at a crossroads. ‘It feels like the right time to turn the page and thankfully, proudly, let go,’ she says. But what’s next? Here’s where it gets even more intriguing: Grande is returning to her roots in music with the Eternal Sunshine Tour, but she’s also branching out into new territories. She’s set to star in Focker In-Law, the sequel to Meet the Parents, alongside Robert De Niro. ‘It was an amazing experience,’ she gushes, ‘He’s Robert De Niro.’
But that’s not all. Grande is also reuniting with Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey for a 2027 West End run of Sunday in the Park With George and has a role in the 13th season of American Horror Story. And here’s the kicker: She’s a self-proclaimed horror fan, dreaming of leading a horror movie. ‘I would love that,’ she says, ‘Fingers crossed.’
Throughout her career, Grande has balanced intense focus with vulnerability. ‘The nervous monsters? They’re always there,’ she admits. ‘But it’s a gift to care so much that you get afraid. It makes you want to work harder.’ Her ability to channel these feelings into her work is what sets her apart. But here’s the question: Can she sustain this balance as she takes on new challenges? Only time will tell.
As Grande moves forward, she’s holding onto a key lesson from Glinda: ‘Good’ is doing the work, and the rest is noise. ‘I celebrate the good things,’ she says, ‘but I don’t let them disconnect me from the little girl who had the ‘Wicked’ poster in her bedroom.’ Her journey is far from over, and we can’t wait to see what she does next. What do you think? Is Ariana Grande’s post-Wicked career a natural evolution, or is she spreading herself too thin? Let’s discuss in the comments!
