After a controversial clip - initially believed to be her official 'audition tape' for the role of Glinda in Wicked - went viral following the film's release last month, actress Amanda Seyfried has spoken out.
Speaking to PEOPLE Magazine this week, the US star not only lifted the lid on the video in question, but had her say on the lucky few who were cast in the production.
I'm sure all musical fans know by now that the role of 'Glinda the Good' eventually went to pop-star and Wicked super-fan Ariana Grande, who was cast all the way back in 2021.
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Grande, 32, starred alongside co-lead stage veteran Cynthia Erivo, who'd bagged the role of Elphaba, who later becomes the 'Wicked Witch of the West' that we all know from The Wizard of Oz.
What many fans of the recently-released film don't realise, however, is that there were actually a hoard of fellow huge-name stars in the running to play either of the female leads.
A Page Six report claimed that musician Lady Gaga was attached to the role as Elphaba in the production's early days, a role that - according to E! News - was also of interest to Anna Kendrick.
When it came to Glinda, meanwhile, Dove Cameron's name was thrown into the mix, alongside the likes of Renée Rapp and Taylor Louderman.
Also in the running for Glinda was Amanda Seyfried, whose vocal talent was emphasised in her both her previously Les Miserables and Mamma Mia roles.
Speaking to Backstage, the 39-year-old previously admitted: 'I have dreams that I’m still auditioning for Wicked. Last summer, while I was playing Elizabeth [Holmes on The Dropout], on the weekends I was auditioning in person to play Glinda in the movie version of Wicked.
"Because I wanted it that much that I was like, ‘You know what? Yeah, I have to play the last scene of The Dropout on Tuesday. I’ll give my Sunday to you.’
"I literally bent over backwards while playing the hardest role of my life."
And amid rumours of her involvement in the production, a video of Amanda performing 'Popular' from the Broadway hit was leaked, with many believing it to be her official audition for the role. Take a look:
As such, when the clip heard her singing the wrong lyrics to the much-loved track, many believed that the controversial mistake could have been part of the reason why the role was given to Grande instead.
It is this speculation, however, that has since prompted Seyfried to set the record straight, telling press this week that the viral video actually wasn't her audition, and that it had simply come from 'just f**king around' with friends.
Speaking to People Magazine this week, the mother-of-two explained: "I think it was during COVID. I was doing a Lancôme shoot in Long Island City. Elizabeth Stewart [was] my stylist.
"I was not auditioning for Wicked yet, but I knew it was like coming up. So I was just f**king around really, and I was like, 'This dress is so Glinda'. And Elizabeth was like, 'Do it.' And then she posted at some point."
Adding that, though the video was originally made 'in jest', she admitted to actively pursuing the role of Glinda, telling the publication: "I went hard for that, for sure.
"And it was a very long process. And everything happens the way it's meant to."
Seyfried made sure to credit Grande for her rendition of the role, however, going on to say: "It's an extravaganza, which is what she does really well. And [my kids] have been playing the soundtrack nonstop.
"And everything is as it's meant to be for sure."
Topics: Ariana Grande, Wicked, TV And Film, Celebrity, US News
Rhianna Benson