'Mamma Mia!' actress reflected on the viral moment which sparked 'Wicked' casting rumors, candidly admitting, 'Maybe It would be better if it hadn't been posted.'
- December 16, 2024
AceShowbiz - Amanda Seyfried, the beloved star of "Mamma Mia!" and "Les Miserables," clarified the backstory behind a viral video that showed her singing "Popular" from the musical "Wicked" while wearing a silver princess dress.
This video, which emerged during COVID-19 lockdowns, led fans to speculate whether it was an audition tape for the role of Glinda in the 2024 "Wicked" film. Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE at the Make It Cute x Babylist Holiday Event in Beverly Hills, Seyfried dispelled the rumors, explaining the true context of the video.
"I think it was during COVID," Seyfried recounts. "I was doing a Lancôme shoot in Long Island City. Elizabeth Stewart [was] my stylist. I was not auditioning for 'Wicked' yet, but I knew it was coming up. So I was just f****** around really, and I was like, 'This dress is so Glinda.' And Elizabeth was like, 'Do it.' And then she posted at some point."
Seyfried emphasized that the video was "truly just a fun, like, [behind-the-scenes] moment of my Lancôme shoot." Now looking back on that memories, she thought "maybe it would be better if it hadn't been posted" since it prompted fans to call for "Wicked" casting.
She did audition for the role of Glinda later on although it eventually went to pop sensation Ariana Grande. "I went hard for that, for sure. And it was a very long process. And everything happens the way it's meant to," Seyfried reveals, adding that she thought the film turned out "fantastic" and praised Grande's performance.
"It's an extravaganza, which is what she [Grande] does really well. And [my kids] have been playing the soundtrack nonstop. And everything is as it's meant to be for sure."
Seyfried is now focusing on her upcoming thriller-mystery film, "The Housemaid," where she will star alongside Sydney Sweeney. Seyfried even dyed her hair blonder for the part, a transformation she welcomed as a refreshing change. "I was excited because I am pretty boring. I needed a change. So I was like, you know what? This is going to be the big movie where I do something different," she said, noting that the new look "really does help me get into character."
Seyfried's journey from a candid behind-the-scenes moment to a heartfelt audition underscores her genuine passion for her craft. Fans may have missed out on seeing her as Glinda, but they'll have plenty to look forward to in her diverse and dynamic career.
