With more than 90 million records (and counting) sold worldwide and 37 entries in the Guinness Book of World Records, along with two Grammys, two Billboard Music Awards, three American Music Awards, 10 MTV Video Awards, 12 Teen Choice Awards and nine Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice awards among others, music superstar Ariana Grande is no stranger to awards.
But this year, Grande is taking it to a whole new level with Golden Globe, Critics Choice, BAFTA and SAG nominations for her performance as Galinda/Glinda in Wicked that, of course, has also won her a first-ever Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
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Grande joins me for today’s episode of my Deadline video series, The Actor’s Side to talk about this new phase of her career, the importance of Wicked in it, and some revelations about where it is all headed with the second part of the musical’s screen adaptation, Wicked: For Good, coming in November.
We also talk about all aspects of her career including earlier acting breakthroughs as a teen star on Nickelodeon’s Victorious and its spinoff, Sam and Cat, as well as her Broadway debut in 2008 in 13, and her role in Adam McKay’s Don’t Look Up. Plus, how did Gloria Estefan play such a key role in inspiring her musical career (and why singing the Titanic theme “My Heart Will Go On” was probably a big mistake).
It is a career that has now hit its zenith in Wicked, including several auditions she eagerly took part in in order to shape the role that has won her such acclaim.
Goodness knows this is the year of Ariana Grande.
To watch our conversation and to get the “actor’s side” of things from Grande, click on the video above. Also, check out the featurette below highlighting the comedic aspects of her Wicked performance.
Join me every week during Oscar season for more episodes of The Actor’s Side.
