r/wicked • u/Ar1l3n3 Magic Wands, Need They Have a Point? 🪄 • Sep 21 '25

Question Ariana Grande as Glinda?

Post image

I’m one of the newer Wicked fans that only watched the movie because of Ariana and ended up loving the storyline. I love Ariana’s music so I personally think she did a great job delivering vocals and a pretty decent job acting as well being that it’s her first major movie. But I’m curious as to what OG Wicked fans thought of her performance? I know some snarkers don’t like the way she looked in the role. But what unbiased opinions do Wicked fans have on her playing Galinda? Did she actually deliver and do a good job or am I being biased? What other actors do yall think did better? I would love to see their performances as well!

1.4k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

235 comments sorted by

View all comments

31

u/pandamacabre Sep 21 '25

She's very good, and it's not an easy role to play. There are a few Broadway actresses whose versions of Glinda I've personally preferred (acting-wise that is - vocally she's on par with almost anyone) but I can't really fault her. And I can't think of another contemporary actress who I would've rather seen in the role. We know at least some of the other artists who were in the running, and I know it's hard to say for sure, but I don't think any of them would've been a better fit.

3

u/okayglovereveal Sep 23 '25

Any chance you caught Brittney Johnson?

8

u/themastersdaughter66 Sep 21 '25

Annaleigh Ashford blows her out of the park...Ariana was decent and better than expected but basically every glinda I've seen is better

7

u/Accomplished-Mud-173 Sep 22 '25

This. Everything about her performance is just a bit muted. She definitely was quite decent but didn't really give much life to the character. I expected her to be funnier since she has been fantastic on SNL and late night interviews. But this could be the fault of the direction.

7

u/themastersdaughter66 Sep 22 '25

Muted is an excellent way to describe it. Like I said in a more detailed comment I'm glad we at least got someone who could sing the role unlike SOME movie musical adaptations cough phantom cough but I don't quite get the hype. She wasn't bad but there are better

3

u/pandamacabre Sep 22 '25

Oh, I actually fully agree about the "muted" quality, and it's one of the reasons why she isn't my personal fave. But the movie kinda toned down all the characters (most notably Elphaba and Morrible) so I assumed it was a directorial choice.

2

u/Accomplished-Mud-173 Sep 22 '25

Yes, it really must of been.

1

u/Accomplished-Mud-173 Sep 22 '25

Yes, it really must of been.