ForWickedfans, the impending conclusion of 2025’s Best Supporting Actress race will soon arrive, and the question of whether Ariana Grande will take home an Oscar for her iconic performance as Glinda will be answered. LeadingWicked’s castalongside Best Lead Actress nominee Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, it is safe to say that Grande surpassed all expectations when it came to her turn as the future Good Witch. While brilliantly delivering every comedic beat, each beloved by fans of the Broadway show, Grande also captures the inherent tenderness of Glinda that makes the whole story come together.
The2025 Oscar nominationswere announced by Grande and Erivo’sWickedco-star Bowen Yang, confirming the widespread expectation that both Grande and Zoe Saldaña forEmilia Pérezwould be nominated for Best Supporting Actress, standing as the decided frontrunners.Many are predicting Saldaña at this point, as she has won multiple major precursors to the Oscars,including the Golden Globe and the Critics' Choice Award in the corresponding category. However,Ariana Grande’s Glindais true magic, with one scene in particular illustrating exactly why she should still win.
Glinda & Elphaba’s Ozdust Duet Is Ariana Grande’s Best Scene In Wicked
Grande Conveys Some Very Deep Emotions During This Scene
Of course,Glinda’s signature song “Popular” is a strong contender for Grande’s best scene in the movie.However, if the perfect whirlwind of comedy and glamour of “Popular” demonstrates why Grande was cast in the role, then Elphaba and Glinda’s dance scene shows why she should win. The events that play out here make it possible for Glinda’s actions to still come across as shallow, as though she is only sorry for the prank she played on Elphaba because Elphaba did something nice for her first — getting her into Madame Morrible’s (Michelle Yeoh) sorcery seminar.
Grande then shows how her charge is a bit awkward in her dancing and ashamed to face Elphaba, but absolutely committed to seeing this through.
None of this is the effect of Grande’s performance. She is startled, and forced to reckon with the facts of what kind of person Elphaba is and what kind of person she has been. When Elphaba shows up and is mocked by everyone, Grande settles into an expression of bone-deep regret. There is a true sadness to it, a heartbreaking understanding that “of course” Elphaba cares what people think, and a finality. When she says, “I feel awful,” it isn’t a complaint about a passing feeling, but a complete reevaluation of her own character.
The Biggest Obstacle To Ariana Grande Smashing A 51-Year-Old Oscars Record Is Wicked’s Big Musical Rival
Ariana Grande stands to break the record for the most screentime for a supporting actor winner, but Wicked’s rival Emilia Pérez stands in the way.
All of a sudden, Glinda knows what she has to do. Grande then shows how her charge is a bit awkward in her dancing and ashamed to face Elphaba, but absolutely committed to seeing this through. Throughout it all, Grande is graceful even in her goofiest dance moves, holding the whole thing together steadfastly when Elphaba is tearing up.From the moment Glinda excuses herself from Fiyero’s (Jonathan Bailey) company to spontaneously hugging Elphaba, she is seeing things clearly for the first time,which Grande portrays with stunning depth and nuance.
Why Ariana Grande Deserves To Win The Best Supporting Actress Oscar
Grande Is Hilarious As Glinda But Hits All The Vital, Serious Notes Of The Character Perfectly
Grande is wickedly hilarious as Glinda,and getting her start on shows likeVictorious, has been working to perfect her comedic acting skills for a long time. She has flawless timing throughoutWickedand exhibits countless subtle mannerisms that show her in character at all times, with plenty of cutting, sudden reactions to things ranging from the beginning of the main chorus of “No One Mourns the Wicked” to seeing Elphaba with Morrible that show how realistically fluctuating Glinda is. The performance is incredibly detailed but also runs very deep.
When Grande has to show moments of grief or regret, there is no doubt that she is fully immersed in the character, allowing the audience to empathize with Glinda. A lot of this seems to be possible because of Grande’s very public, longtime adoration of the show, having identified with Glinda since she was a child and spent years thinking about every facet of her. Ariana Grande as Glinda is a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence and the brilliant combination of her acting skills and understanding ofWickedequal a performance that deserves the Oscar.
