Featured Image Credit: Universal
Topics: Ariana Grande, Celebrity, TV And Film, US News, Social Media
Rhianna Benson
Topics: Ariana Grande, Celebrity, TV And Film, US News, Social Media
When child actress turned pop-star Ariana Grande was cast in the role of 'Glinda the Good' in the movie adaptation of Wicked, many fans of Broadway original deemed the choice rather controversial.
So, when the magical movie landed in cinemas earlier this month, super fans couldn't wait to voice their verdict - and by the looks of things, many have come to the same judgement on Grande's performance.
Both Grande, 31, and her co-lead Cynthia Erivo, 37 - who plays Elphaba, also known as the 'Wicked Witch of the West' - were announced as the film's protagonists back in 2021, nine years after the project was first teased.
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The 'Side to Side' hitmaker was known by her fans as a long-standing fan of the Broadway banger, and had regularly told press since her beginnings as a Nickelodeon star that one of her life-long ambitions was to play Glinda.
If she bagged the role, she'd be following in the footsteps of stage legends Kristin Chenoweth and Helen Dallimore.
After mightily impressing director Jon M. Chu, however - following several successful rounds of auditions - the 'Thank U Next' singer told press she felt 'challenge' to convey herself as a movie actress, as opposed to a chart-topper dipping her toe into the film industry.
"It has to be earned," she said of the part. "Anything on this scale, being a part of anything, it’s not just given because they know you for one thing.
"So, it’s fun to kind of have the challenge of reframing people’s perception and doing the work to earn your way back into the other spaces."
And by the sounds of viewers' responses to the film, Grande has done just that and then some, with many surprised that the singer has been able to add a comedic side to her personality - something fans hadn't seen much of before.
Taking to social media after sitting through the 2hr 41 minute blockbuster, one penned online: "Ariana Grande’s comedy is perfection in Wicked but ugh I love what she did in No One Mourns The Wicked. So subtle but effective."
Another admitted: "I’m on the 'Ariana Grande for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar' train. She is delightful in Wicked, with razor-sharp timing and presence that adds depth to the mean girl archetype. It’s one of the best comedic musical performances in years (maybe since Catherine Zeta-Jones)."
A third claimed: "Ariana was getting so many giggles from the audience like she’s truly a comedic natural!"
"The fact that Ariana ad-libbed this part and it made it to the movie - ariana grande, the comedic genius that you are," another gushed.
A fifth continued: "what kills me is that ariana has BEEN funny but people are just now realizing bc of wicked"
"Finally watched wicked. and damn, ariana is really taking that oscar," another predicted. "Every time she was on screen everyone in that theater was laughing. because she was THAT funny. she was born to play the role of galinda. no one else could’ve executed it the way she did."
Another continued: "The Wicked movie really is so good and I think all the kerfuffle around Ariana Grande’s personal life and music career has tended to obscure the fact that she is an exceptionally talented comedic actor."