Amanda Seyfried has discussed her experience trying to win the role of Glinda in Wicked, revealing she auditioned six times for the part.
The role would eventually go to singer Ariana Grande, who appeared opposed Cynthia Erivo as Ephaba in the blockbuster Broadway adaptation. Both stars would go on to be nominated for Oscars for their performances, and will reprise their roles in November’s Wicked: For Good.
Seyfried has been in several hit musicals, including Les Miserables and Mamma Mia! However, she was unsuccessful in securing the part of Glinda, despite going the extra mile to convince filmmakers she was right for it. “I’m in that privileged spot where I just don’t have to (audition),” she told the In The Envelope podcast, “But I like, of course, I talked about this a lot. I auditioned like six times for Wicked”.
She said she did that many “because that had to be really just right, And I like, I loved it”. She then detailed the preparation she put into learning the part. “I was busy. I barely had time to do it, but I made it work,” she said. “I worked my ass off for years and years and years on that music”.
When discussing why she went to such lengths, she explained: “I’m just competitive with myself in a really healthy way”.
Seyfried also talked about the experience on the Happy. Sad. Confused. podcast in March. “I do think everything happens for a reason,” she said of losing out on the role, adding that she was grateful to screen test with Erivo during the process. “I also got to sing with Cynthia, and that was a moment in itself” she said.
Recently, social media users called for Amanda Seyfried to play Joni Mitchell in a biopic after the actor covered the song ‘California’ on a talk show. However, she denied that the recording was an informal audition, saying she has “very, very much aged-out” of playing the singer.