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Ariana Grande is celebrating a major milestone in her film career after landing a second Golden Globe nomination for her performance as Glinda in Wicked: For Good.
On Monday, the pop superstar, 32, and her co-star Cynthia Erivo made award show history as the first two actors from the same film to be consecutively nominated for their respective roles as Glinda and Elphaba.
While reacting to the news, the pop superstar, 32, told The Hollywood Reporter that the moment took her by surprise.
‘It is definitely just as exciting [as last year’s nomination] and kind of blindsiding,’ she said. ‘You don’t expect something like this, let alone [for it] to happen twice for the same role. So I’m just deeply honored. I’m just really moved by it.’
Grande went on to reflect on her experience attending last year’s ceremony and the unexpected personal moments that came with it.
‘Something that I was so grateful for last year was that I just felt really present, and I was so excited to meet so many actors that I really respect and whose work that I really love, and have such human conversations and positive experiences [with],’ she explained.
The two-time Grammy winner went on to recall meeting Kate Winslet last year, which she described as ‘one of the most exciting things in the world.’
‘She was just so kind and warm and just had the most amazing, encouraging words to share,’ Grande said. ‘And it’s moments like that that I think people don’t get to know about or see, really, that are so special, that I’ll always cherish and take with me. I hope to see some of the friends that I made.’
When asked what Winslet said, Grande preferred to protect the moment.
‘I think I want to keep it in my heart, but it was a really sweet connection, and it was just really wonderful. I remember how lovely she was whenever our categories came up: A hand hold, a wink, a squeeze of the hand. It was just beautiful. She’s my favorite actress, so that was very surreal.’
With the Wicked tour winding down, the actress hinted at what may come next.
‘There are a few things floating around in my head, but I would love to do theater as well, and it’s something that I’m excited about,’ Grande, who will next star in Focker in-Law, said.
She continued: ‘I think as someone who started on Broadway, I would love to be on stage in that way again, and exercise a different muscle and continue to tell stories in different ways. I’m so lucky to be here, and I love acting. It’s really fun.’
While Wicked: For Good missed out on a Best Picture – Musical or Comedy nomination, the film still received five nods, including Best Cinematic and Box Office Achievement and Best Original Song in a Motion Picture for Stephen Schwartz’s No Place Like Home and The Girl in the Bubble.
On Monday, Grande also told Deadline that the film gave Glinda more emotional dimension than audiences typically see on stage.
She highlighted The Girl in the Bubble, which also earned a Golden Globe nomination, as a character-defining moment.
‘What I love about the song is that it offers you a really intimate look at her making that decision to become who she’s ultimately meant to be, which is Glinda the Good,’ she said. ‘Being able to do that in the film was very exciting.’
She added that the track showcases both sides of Glinda’s voice — the bright, public persona and the vulnerable, private one — reflecting her evolution throughout the story.
Just last month, Grande released a heartfelt open letter to Wicked fans following the film’s record-breaking premiere.
Reflecting on her long connection to Oz, she wrote that the magical world has been her ‘safe space for as long as’ she can remember, and shared the lessons she has carried with her – from learning ‘how to love unconditionally’ and ‘to forgive.’
‘Becoming your Glinda the Good and being asked to join this most wonderful group of human beings on a most creatively and emotionally fulfilling journey was the greatest gift of my life. I have learned more from my time with Glinda than anyone,’ she wrote.
She also thanked fans for embracing the story so deeply: seeing how Wicked has impacted audiences ‘in the same way that it has for me over the course of my life has been the most meaningful, moving and cherished gift of all.’
Grande ended the tribute with a message to hold on to the magic even when the lights go down.
‘Before I go, please remember: whenever things get scary or you feel alone, home is wherever and with whomever we want it to be… Your chosen Ozian family loves you exactly as you are.’ She signed off, ‘Love always, Ariana (Your Glinda).’
Since its release, Wicked: For Good continues performing strongly in theaters.
The film, directed by Jon M. Chu, debuted to a massive $150 million in North America and $226 million worldwide, the largest opening ever for a Broadway musical adaptation.
It now ranks as the third-biggest musical debut in history, behind The Lion King (2019) and Beauty and the Beast (2017).
The movie is the second chapter of the franchise, chronicling the untold origin story of the witches of Oz.
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