June 26, 2025: Amanda Seyfried has revealed she auditioned six times for the role of Glinda in the upcoming Wicked movie—but despite her intense efforts, the part ultimately went to pop star Ariana Grande.
In an interview with People magazine, the Oscar-nominated actress candidly shared her journey, saying, “I auditioned like six times for Wicked. That had to be really just right. And I loved it. I was busy, I barely had time to do it, but I made it work.”
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Best known for musicals like Les Misérables and Mamma Mia!, Seyfried said she rarely auditions anymore—but Wicked was an exception. “I worked my ass off for years and years on that music,” she shared, adding, “I’m just competitive… with myself in a really healthy way.”
Seyfried also revealed that one of her auditions included singing with Cynthia Erivo, who stars as Elphaba in the film. “I’ve never felt that solid in my voice than I did at the auditions. And that’s kind of what I got out of it.”
Although she didn’t land the role, Seyfried remains positive. “I do think everything happens for a reason,” she said, mentioning that her family still sings “Defying Gravity” around the house.
At the time of her auditions, Seyfried was also shooting The Dropout, for which she later won an Emmy. “I literally bent over backwards while playing the hardest role of my life,” she reflected. “But it taught me how far I’ve come as a singer, which I really wanted to prove.”