Ariana Grande on ‘Wicked’ Oscar Nomination: “Getting to Play Glinda Was the Greatest Gift of My Life”

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Ariana Grande, a multi-talented artist with numerous awards and nominations under her belt, has been nominated for an Oscar for her role in the musical “Wicked“. This nomination, according to Grande, is the “greatest honor” of her life.

Grande expresses her disbelief and awe, saying it’s almost unreal, to The Hollywood Reporter. She’s been dreaming of playing Glinda for over 20 years. To be acknowledged in this way for that role is an indescribable honor for her. It’s the greatest gift she’s ever received, and she’s incredibly moved, grateful, and can’t fully comprehend it.

After the nominations were announced, where “Wicked” received a staggering 10 nods, including best picture and best actress for Cynthia Erivo, Grande shared that she had conversations with her costar and director, Jon M. Chu, who was unfortunately overlooked in the best director category.

Cynthia and I have been communicating via voice messages since she’s flying and can’t video call, while I’ve also been video chatting with Jon M. Chu, an exceptional individual if ever there was one. She expresses this emotionally, saying, ‘It feels like a celebration of our family and of him, as it all stems from the top and flows right down… I eagerly anticipate more flowers heading his way in the future, for what he’s accomplished is indelible and once-in-a-lifetime, securing his position as one of the world’s top directors. And yet, despite being an acclaimed and outstanding director, it feels like just the start.’

Despite the award recognition coming as a surprise to Grande, she admitted that she felt there was something unique about it when she attended the Australian premiere of the film in November.

From the moment we began, I sensed a unique magic about it, and each day only reinforced that feeling for me… I was constantly aware of my gratitude every morning and every night, and my creative spirit was always filled with joy,” she expresses. “However, it wasn’t until we sat at the premiere in Australia alongside Cynthia, and the audience applauded during our embrace in the Ozdust ballroom scene, that I truly understood, ‘perhaps this is how they have felt all along.’ We hadn’t anticipated their applause at that moment, or any reaction for that matter. For years, we had been immersed in this project, keeping it a secret between us. So, you never really know how an intimate creation will be received when finally revealed to the world, even in your most optimistic dreams.

In addition to being nominated for a Golden Globe for her portrayal, which was her first time receiving this honor, Grande had previously seen the play “Wicked” ten times. As of now, she hasn’t watched “Wicked: For Good,” neither have we.

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2025-01-23 21:25