Amanda Seyfried has made it no secret that she auditioned to play Glinda in the “Wicked” movie, but the extent to which she tried her hardest to land the role is now coming to light. Speaking on Backstage’s “In the Envelope” podcast (via People), the Oscar nominee revealed: “I auditioned like six times for ‘Wicked.’”
“Because that had to be really just right,” Seyfried said. “And I like, I loved it. I was busy. I barely had time to do it, but I made it work. I worked my ass off for years and years and years on that music. I’m competitive… with myself in a really healthy way.”
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“There’s something really beautiful about auditioning,” she continued. “If you really have the skill, you’re going to show it no matter what. There’s this weird fear when you walk in that you have to make an impression right away, which you do but the only impression that is helpful is to be yourself. The things that people do… the way they behave when they’re nervous can be off-putting. Centering yourself and saying wha you feel instead of a bunch of bullshit is helpful.”
Ariana Grande ended up landing the role of Glinda in “Wicked” and earned an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress. The Broadway musical was split into two films. The second, “Wicked: For Good,” arrives in theaters this November. Seyfried told People magazine last year that she was loved the “fantastic” first movie even if she didn’t get the role.
“It’s an extravaganza, which is what she [Grande] does really well,” Seyfried said. “And [my kids] have been playing the soundtrack nonstop. And everything is as it’s meant to be for sure.”
Speaking to Backstage in July 2022, Seyfried said that she made auditioning for Glinda in “Wicked” a big priority after hating the way she sounded in “Les Misérables.”
“I have dreams that I’m still auditioning for ‘Wicked,’” Seyfried said at the time. “I think it taught me how far I’ve come as a singer, which I really wanted to prove. Because ever since ‘Les Mis,’ I was like, I need to be better. I need to do better. So whatever comes next in terms of musicals, I’m finally prepared.”
Seyfried is often open about the roles she has and hasn’t gotten in Hollywood. On the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast earlier this year, the actor spoke about being offered the role of Gamora in Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy.” She thought the movie was too weird and worried signing on would result in starring in Marvel’s first misfire.
“Let’s also remember that being a part of the first Marvel movie that bombs ain’t good for your career,” she continued. “I thought that because this was about a talking tree and a talking raccoon that it would be Marvel’s first bomb and me and Chris Pratt would never work again. I was wrong! But I was just being smart. It’s not brave.”
Seyfried admitted she was “way too scared” to take a chance on “Guardians,” which ended up being a break out hit for Marvel Studios in 2013 with $773 million at the worldwide box office. Zoe Saldaña was cast in the role of Gamora.
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