It was the dream role she’d wanted since she was a child. And she was ready to fight for it.
In the world of musical theatre, Wicked is the golden broomstick, an iconic tale of friendship, power and glittering high notes that has made stars out of its Glindas and Elphabas.
Since news first broke in 2012 that the beloved stage musical would fly onto the big screen, actors across Hollywood quietly marked their diaries, hoping to belt out Popular or defy gravity in front of a camera.
Years later, fans saw Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande cast as Elphaba and Glinda, cementing their roles in Wicked history.
But behind the scenes, another actress was fighting for her place in Oz, auditioning again and again, determined to land the part she’d been dreaming of since childhood.
It turns out that was Amanda Seyfried, who revealed she “worked [her] ass off for years and years and years” trying to be Glinda, even as her Hollywood career soared.
The Les Misérables and Mamma Mia! star, 39, and an Oscar nominee for Mank, shared the heartbreak of coming so close—only to miss out.
Speaking on the Backstage: In the Envelope podcast, Seyfried admitted she normally doesn’t need to audition these days, but Wicked was the exception. “I auditioned like six times for Wicked,” she said.
“Because that had to be really just right. And I loved it.” Between filming commitments and family life, she carved out time to prepare. “I barely had time to do it, but I made it work,” she said.
“I’m just competitive with myself in a really healthy way.” Earlier this year, Seyfried opened up further on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, describing the intense preparation she put into her audition. She even sang with Cynthia Erivo during the process, calling it “a moment in itself”.
“I’ve never felt that solid in my voice than I did at the auditions. And that’s kind of what I got out of it,” she told host Josh Horowitz, reflecting with a hint of optimism. “I do, again, think everything happens for a reason.”
Seyfried’s commitment went beyond just showing up. She hired a vocal coach, worked with an acting coach and said she “bent over backwards” to give herself the best shot at the part she’d wanted for decades.
Despite all her efforts, the role of Glinda ultimately went to Grande, who starred opposite Erivo in the two-part film adaptation. Both stars earned Oscar nominations for their roles, with the sequel Wicked: For Good set to hit cinemas this November.
In a moment that fuelled fan speculation, Erivo appeared to throw shade at Seyfried and other contenders when she told The New York Times it was “no surprise whatsoever” that Ariana secured the role, adding, “Thank goodness, because it was not the two ladies that I was auditioning with.”
But there are no hard feelings from Seyfried, who has since praised the final film, calling it “fantastic” and telling fans that her children now play the Wicked soundtrack “nonstop” at home.
“It’s an extravaganza, which is what she [Grande] does really well. And everything is as it’s meant to be for sure,” she said.
