Ariana Grande Explains Voice Change for Glinda in Wicked

Ariana Grande committed to transforming her voice for her portrayal of Glinda in the film adaptation of Wicked. This choice stems from a deep respect for the iconic Broadway show.

Grande acknowledges that her voice retains its uniqueness, although it may seem altered. To embody Glinda opposite Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba, she dedicated significant effort to connect with the character. Modifying her natural vocal pitch played a key role in this process.

"It was important to erase as much of myself as possible," she explained in a New York Times interview on November 6. "It allows the audience to fully see Glinda."

The distinct octave she adopted for Glinda lingers with her, even after filming concluded. Grande has addressed criticisms regarding her voice changes.

"There is a segment of the world that doesn’t understand the effort required to shift your voice," she stated in September during a Vanity Fair interview. "This includes aspects like singing, adapting dialects, or evoking character voices."

"A male actor undergoing such changes is often praised," Ariana noted. "There may be some jokes as well, but they usually follow high praise: ‘Oh, wow, he was so immersed in the role.’ That’s part of the profession."

Despite the backlash, Grande, who met boyfriend Ethan Slater while filming, remains unbothered. She views her voice change as evidence of her dedication to this long-desired role.

"It’s something I’m proud of," she remarked about her vocal transformation. "I engaged with critics because I feel proud of my hard work and the fact that I invested 100 percent of myself, including my physicality, into this role. Protecting that pride matters to me."

While her voice might show notable changes in the film, it’s not her only adjustment. In the adaptation, set for release on November 22 and featuring actors like Jonathan Bailey, Bowen Yang, and Michelle Yeoh, Grande’s credit appears under her full name, Ariana Grande-Butera.

"This journey felt like coming home," she shared in a November 4 clip from The Streaming Service with Justin Hill. "Through my character's lessons, I returned to myself. I saw the show using my name when I was 10, so it honors that experience beautifully."