Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, stars of the upcoming movie musical 'Wicked: For Good', see their latest roles as a life lesson in understanding human nature. In an exclusive interview, the singer-songwriter and actress revealed how they approach their characters, Glinda and Elphaba respectively.
For Grande, Glinda's complex character presented an opportunity to delve into her childhood and the experiences that shape her. "I was mapping out her insecurities and using a color-coding system," she explained, highlighting the amount of preparation and research involved in getting to know Glinda. The process allowed her to find a deeper connection with the character, blurring the lines between her own personality and Glinda's.
Cynthia Erivo, on the other hand, views Elphaba as more than just an evil character; she sees a person who has been shaped by pain, hurt, and experiences that have led to her current state. For Erivo, perception is everything, and understanding the complexity of human nature allows for empathy and connection with others.
Both Grande and Erivo appreciate how 'Wicked: For Good' challenges its audience to look beyond surface-level judgments and consider the nuances of each character's existence. "People are the accumulation of all their experiences and hurt," Grande said, emphasizing the importance of understanding the context behind human behavior.
Their admiration for their director, Jon M. Chu, is also evident in the film. Both Grande and Erivo praise his innate understanding of the human experience, empathy, and ability to balance the needs of everyone involved in the production.
As they prepare for the release of 'Wicked: For Good', both Grande and Erivo have come to understand that their roles extend beyond the screen – they serve as a reminder of the power of storytelling, its impact on our lives, and the connections we make with others.
For Grande, Glinda's complex character presented an opportunity to delve into her childhood and the experiences that shape her. "I was mapping out her insecurities and using a color-coding system," she explained, highlighting the amount of preparation and research involved in getting to know Glinda. The process allowed her to find a deeper connection with the character, blurring the lines between her own personality and Glinda's.
Cynthia Erivo, on the other hand, views Elphaba as more than just an evil character; she sees a person who has been shaped by pain, hurt, and experiences that have led to her current state. For Erivo, perception is everything, and understanding the complexity of human nature allows for empathy and connection with others.
Both Grande and Erivo appreciate how 'Wicked: For Good' challenges its audience to look beyond surface-level judgments and consider the nuances of each character's existence. "People are the accumulation of all their experiences and hurt," Grande said, emphasizing the importance of understanding the context behind human behavior.
Their admiration for their director, Jon M. Chu, is also evident in the film. Both Grande and Erivo praise his innate understanding of the human experience, empathy, and ability to balance the needs of everyone involved in the production.
As they prepare for the release of 'Wicked: For Good', both Grande and Erivo have come to understand that their roles extend beyond the screen – they serve as a reminder of the power of storytelling, its impact on our lives, and the connections we make with others.
I'm so hyped for this new movie musical "Wicked: For Good"! I love how Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are diving deep into their characters' psyches, like, Glinda's insecurities were literally mapped out on a color-coding system 
. It shows they're putting in the work to make these characters so much more than just a one-dimensional persona. And I'm loving how they're emphasizing empathy and understanding - it's all about looking beyond the surface level and getting into the human experience, you know? 
Ariana & Cynthia are literally giving me all the feels! 
The way they see the movie as a reminder of storytelling's power is so deep 
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are going to bring Wicked to life in such an epic way! 
I love how they're talking about how they're not just playing characters, but also learning from them. It's like, we can all relate to having insecurities and making mistakes, so it's super refreshing to see the complexity of human nature on screen. 
And I'm already imagining how Ariana Grande is going to slay as Glinda - her songwriting skills are going to be SO relevant to the movie! 
Can't wait to see 'Wicked: For Good' come out in theaters! 
I gotta say, I'm loving how Ariana and Cynthia are getting all deep about Glinda and Elphaba, but can't they just stick to the script? 
I mean, no offense or anything, but it feels like they're trying too hard to analyze their characters. It's a musical, folks! 
And what's with all this color-coding system stuff? That sounds like way too much work for just playing a princess... or in this case, a misunderstood outcast. 
and Elphaba's backstory is giving me all the feels 
. I love that they're both talking about how their roles have taught them about human nature and empathy... it's like, we need more of that in this world 
. and can we talk about Jon M. Chu's direction? genius 
he's definitely done his research on these characters and it shows! 
and I totally agree with them about needing empathy in understanding others, it's not just about being "good" or "bad", but about seeing the complexities of human behavior 
. it's all about understanding where people come from and what shapes them into who they are. no one is just good or evil, everyone has a story to tell 
. the way they approach their roles as Glinda & Elphaba is so inspiring, it's like they're saying "see beyond the surface" 
. and I love that Jon M. Chu is bringing this message through his direction 
And can we talk about Jon M. Chu, he's literally a genius with storytelling and I'm so grateful he brought this project to life! 
.
). And Elphaba? She's just so... human 
. Plus, it's amazing to see these actresses bringing their own empathy to their roles - that's exactly what we want our kids to learn! 
I mean, Grande said she was mapping out her insecurities, but like, isn't that just a fancy way of saying "I'm playing a 'good girl' who has some flaws" 
? Don't get me wrong, it sounds like a solid approach to character development, but is it really deep enough? I think we need more nuance with Glinda's backstory... 
. It's so great to see them talking about the importance of empathy and understanding... maybe we can learn a thing or two from Glinda's insecurities? 
. I'm all about this movie being more than just entertainment - it's a reminder of the power of storytelling to connect us on a deeper level 
. Their approach to understanding human nature is so important, you know? It's like, we can't just judge people based on how they look or what they do, we gotta dig deeper 
. It's like, they're not just one-dimensional villains or heroes, they're multidimensional people with feelings and experiences 
. And I think Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are proof that we can do better 
