Ariana Grande is finding humor in her transformation into Glinda for Wicked. During a cover story interview with Variety, which also featured insights from her co-star Cynthia Erivo and director Jon M. Chu, the 31-year-old singer and actress joked about her blonde eyebrows, which she has kept as she continues to promote the highly anticipated film.
“Glinda required a lot of vocal work for me,” Grande explained. “Some things may fade, but I’m grateful for the parts that will stay with us. It’s beautiful to feel the ghost of every day.” She added with a laugh, “I’m still looking for my eyebrows. I’ll let you know if I find them — I hope I don’t.”
This isn’t the first time Grande has discussed the impact of her Wicked character’s style. In November, she shared an Instagram video showing the process of getting Glinda’s look. The character, she said, even changed her approach to makeup.
“Glinda’s makeup made me transform my entire look and my relationship with makeup. I love it so much,” Grande said. “It’s soft and open — no thick eyeliner or heavy crease. The lashes are cat-shaped, giving me the lift I love, but it also feels like a more honest representation of who I am.”
Frances Hannon, the makeup and hair designer for Wicked, previously told PEOPLE that Grande “absolutely loves makeup” and worked closely with the team to create Glinda’s look. “We kept her light and iridescent, complementing her costumes. No harsh lines, just everything soft and youthful,” Hannon explained.
Grande also added a personal touch to Glinda’s look by using products from her own beauty brand, r.e.m. beauty. Hannon revealed that before filming, Grande would apply r.e.m. beauty’s “Interstellar Highlighter Topper” in “Miss Mercury” on her nose as a final touch.
“It was a very cute addition that Ari had for her Glinda,” Hannon said.
Meanwhile, Erivo, who portrays Elphaba in Wicked, also infused her character with personal touches. In an interview with Variety, Erivo explained that she reimagined Elphaba’s hair as micro-braids to add a unique texture while maintaining movement and length. She said it was a reflection of her identity as a Black woman and the connection she felt to the green-skinned witch.
Erivo also discussed her decision to incorporate long nails as part of Elphaba’s transformation, noting it was a way of marking the character’s evolution. “I noticed that the original Wicked Witch had nails. I wanted to show how she grows both as a witch and as a woman,” Erivo said. “For me, nails are a way of expressing myself.”
Both Grande and Erivo’s personal connections to their characters highlight how Wicked has allowed them to bring their unique perspectives to the iconic roles.
