Amanda Seyfried has long been one of Hollywood’s most versatile and admired performers, but even a decorated résumé and award wins don’t exempt her from the grind. In a recent podcast appearance, the Mamma Mia! and The Dropout star opened up about auditioning—six times—for the role of Glinda in Wicked, a part that ultimately went to pop icon Ariana Grande. Her story isn’t one of regret, but of resilience, passion, and a love for the craft.
A role she chased—and cherished
On the June 19 episode of Backstage’s In the Envelope podcast, Amanda Seyfried candidly recounted her audition process for Wicked, the highly anticipated film adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical. Seyfried, now 39, revealed she went through six rounds of auditions for the role of Glinda, the “Good Witch,” which eventually went to Ariana Grande.
“I’m in that privileged spot where I just don’t have to [audition],” Seyfried admitted. “But I like, of course, I talked about this a lot. I auditioned like six times for Wicked. Because that had to be really just right.” Her tone wasn’t bitter—it was determined and appreciative. Seyfried made it clear that she relished the opportunity and the challenge. “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.”
The actress is no stranger to musical roles, having played Cosette in Les Misérables (2012), Sophie in Mamma Mia! and its sequel, and having sung in various other projects. But Wicked was something different—something personal. “I’m just competitive,” she added with a smile, “with myself in a really healthy way.”
Singing with Cynthia and chasing “Defying Gravity”
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This wasn’t the first time Seyfried publicly reflected on her Wicked journey. In a March appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, she shared more details about the audition process—including a memorable duet with Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba in the film.
“I was able to really prepare, and I’m telling you, I’ve never felt that solid in my voice than I did at the auditions,” she told host Josh Horowitz. “That’s kind of what I got out of it.” Though she didn’t land the role, the experience of working on the material and collaborating with Erivo left an enduring impression.
“I also got to sing with Cynthia, and that was a moment in itself,” she said. Seyfried even joked that her household still sings “Defying Gravity” regularly, despite her not being cast. The moment was bittersweet but affirming. Seyfried didn’t just audition—she threw herself into the process with everything she had. And while Ariana Grande ultimately took the role of Glinda (earning an Oscar nomination for her performance), Seyfried found value in the work she put in and the growth it revealed.
Balancing Glinda dreams with Emmy-winning work
What makes Seyfried’s audition journey even more remarkable is the context in which it occurred. At the time, she was filming The Dropout, the Hulu limited series in which she portrayed Elizabeth Holmes, the disgraced founder of Theranos. The performance would go on to earn her an Emmy Award and widespread critical acclaim.
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And yet, even as she tackled one of the most challenging acting roles of her career, she was carving out time on weekends to chase her musical aspirations. “On the weekends, I was auditioning in person to play Glinda in the movie version of Wicked — because I wanted it that much,” Seyfried recalled. “I was like, ‘You know what? Yeah, I have to play the last scene of The Dropout on Tuesday. I’ll give my Sunday to you.’”
That determination speaks volumes not just about her work ethic, but about her deep-rooted love for musical theater. “I literally bent over backwards while playing the hardest role of my life,” she continued. “But I think it also taught me how far I’ve come as a singer, which I really wanted to prove.”
A lesson in love for the craft
In the end, Amanda Seyfried’s Wicked story isn’t a tale of disappointment—it’s a powerful reminder of what it means to be an artist. Even with an Oscar nomination, an Emmy win, and nearly two decades of screen success behind her, Seyfried remains deeply connected to the fundamentals: preparation, persistence, and passion.
Her willingness to throw herself into the audition process, to sing with everything she had, and to walk away proud—even without the part—makes her journey one that resonates beyond Broadway or Hollywood.
There are no small efforts in acting, only growth. Seyfried didn’t get to defy gravity on the big screen, but in a way, she did something even more inspiring: she showed what it means to give everything for a dream, and then keep going—with grace, grit, and song.
