Cynthia Erivo shades actresses who auditioned for Glinda in ‘Wicked’: ‘Thank goodness’ Ariana Grande was cast
The New York Times, Erivo, 37, and Grande, 31, spoke about the casting process. Asked how they reacted after learning the other one had been cast, Erivo responded, “Absolutely no surprise whatsoever.”“I said, ‘Thank God,'” Grande recalled.
Erivo then made a dig at the other women who were being considered to play Glinda in the film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical. “Thank goodness, because it was not the two ladies that I was auditioning with,” Erivo said, implying that two other actresses that auditioned to play Oz’s famed Good Witch were not up to snuff.
The remark left Grande gobsmacked. “Oh my God!” she said.“Thank Goodness” is also the name of a song in “Wicked.”Aside from Grande, actresses Amanda Seyfried, Dove Cameron, Reneé Rapp and Taylor Louderman also auditioned for the role of Glinda, according to reports.Erivo went on to reveal that she didn’t think she would be considered to play Elphaba. “Historically, Black women have never really been seen for the role,” she said. “If they have, they haven’t gotten the role, and if they do, they usually are the alternate or first cover.
There’s only one woman I know on record that has done it on the West End [in London]. So I just didn’t think they were looking for me.”Erivo added that, while she didn’t know why so few black women have been considered for the role since the show’s debut in 2004, she suggested, “Maybe it’s a symptom of the time when it was made.”The Broadway vet has been making headlines while promoting “Wicked,” which hits theaters Nov.
United States
|
Cases: 46 252 513
Deaths: 750 423
Recovered: 0
|
India
|
Cases: 34 321 025
Deaths: 459 652
Recovered: 0
|
Brazil
|
Cases: 21 835 785
Deaths: 608 235
Recovered: 0
|
United Kingdom
|
Cases: 9 215 683
Deaths: 141 607
Recovered: 0
|
Russia
|
Cases: 8 494 589
Deaths: 237 619
Recovered: 0
|