Wicked stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo have revealed the truth about their contracts for the movie – after rumors of a pay gap between them.
The pair are basking in the box office success of Wicked: Part 1, the first instalment in the two-film adaptation of the smash hit 2003 musical.
In the run-up to the movie’s release, it was trailed by a cloud of rumors that Ariana, a globally famous pop star, was paid significantly more than Cynthia.
As the conjecture reached a fever pitch, Universal Pictures issued a statement in November insisting both actresses earned the same wage.
Now Cynthia and Ariana have candidly discussed the ‘rare’ step they took in order to ensure that they were being compensated equally.
‘We went through our contracts together and called each other up. “Did you see that? What do you think about that? Let’s get it together!”‘ Ariana, 31, told Variety.
Wicked stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo have revealed the truth about their contracts for the movie – after rumors of a pay gap between them
‘We both went through it – “What number are we doing? How do you feel about that?” We were really f***ing honest. And that’s really rare. People don’t do that,’ said Cynthia, who plays the movie’s lead role of Elphaba.
‘We’re very different, but when we’re doing something like this together, her needs become my needs,’ said Ariana. ‘And her needs become mine,’ said Cynthia.
In the same interview, they discussed how they ‘took care of one another’ during their emotional, much-mocked press tour for Jon M. Chu’s $150M-budget picture.
Ariana said: ‘I feel so grateful and proud of how present we’ve been able to be. A lot of people have come up to us and been like, “How you holding up?” with a long face. And we’ve just peeked at each other and been like, “We’re grateful and floating.”‘
The globetrotting belters had a habit of welling up at the slightest prompting during their international premieres and press junkets like when Jake’s Takes asked how they changed each other on November 8.
Ariana and the British 37-year-old also liberally used therapy-speak buzz words like ‘holding space’ in an interview with Out Magazine on November 21.
‘We can giggle at it all we want, because we’re quite funny. I’ve watched and had a giggle,’ Grande (born Butera) admitted.
‘But it is really a privilege to work and feel this way, not just as an actress in a movie but as a human being with other human beings who care — yes, about the work, but about each other.’
The pair are basking in the box office success of Wicked: Part 1, the first instalment in the two-film adaptation of the smash hit 2003 musical; pictured on set with director Jon M. Chu
In a Variety cover interview, Ariana (R) and Cynthia (L) discussed how they ‘took care of one another’ during their emotional, much-mocked press tour for Jon M. Chu’s (M) $150M-budget big-screen adaptation of the 2003 Broadway musical
But the two-time Grammy winner argued that their Wicked castmate Jeff Goldblum – who played the Wizard of Oz – was actually the most emotional person on the set not herself.
‘I think Jeff, he kept it to himself,’ Ariana said.
‘But every time I would like look at him he’d be quietly in a corner, like, watching what’s going on crying.’
Refreshingly, Grande and Erivo ‘went through our contracts together’ and received equal pay to portray the Good Witch of the South, Galinda Upland, and the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba Thropp.
The 45-year-old filmmaker noted: ‘This is a modern production. This is what Hollywood should reflect. These are co-CEOs of Wicked Inc.’
The $150M-budget, critically-acclaimed fantasy flick has amassed $643.8M at the global box office since opening November 22.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will officially announce Oscar nominations on January 17, and both ladies are eager to hear their names called.
‘I will raise hell if this lady does not get her nomination,’ the Defying Gravity belter scoffed.
The globetrotting belters had a habit of welling up at the slightest prompting during their international premieres and press junkets like when Jake’s Takes asked how they changed each other on November 8
Ariana and the British 37-year-old also liberally used therapy-speak buzz words like ‘holding space’ in an interview with Out Magazine on November 21
Grande (born Butera) admitted: ‘We can giggle at it all we want, because we’re quite funny. I’ve watched and had a giggle. But it is really a privilege to work and feel this way, not just as an actress in a movie but as a human being with other human beings who care’
But the two-time Grammy winner argued that their Wicked castmate Jeff Goldblum – who played the Wizard of Oz – was actually the most emotional person on the set not herself
Ariana said: ‘I think Jeff, he kept it to himself. But every time I would like look at him he’d be quietly in a corner, like, watching what’s going on crying’
Refreshingly, Grande and Erivo ‘went through our contracts together’ and received equal pay to portray the Good Witch of the South, Galinda Upland, and the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba Thropp
The $150M-budget, critically-acclaimed fantasy flick has amassed $643.8M at the global box office since opening November 22
‘It’s a really f***ing hard job to jump into the middle of something like this and have it be your first time.’
The Florida-born former child star said: ‘And I can’t wait to be in the audience for all of it. But you, Miss Elphaba, deserve your flowers, and I can’t wait to hold your train as you get that EGOT — and your gummy vitamins, and your thermos.’
But first, Cynthia will compete for the best actress in a musical/comedy trophy at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, which air this Sunday on CBS/Paramount+.
Erivo faces heavy competition against Nightbi***’s Amy Adams, Emilia Pérez star Karla Sofía Gascón, Anora’s Mikey Madison, The Substance’s Demi Moore, and Challengers star Zendaya.
And Ariana is nominated for best supporting actress against both Emilia Pérez stars Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldaña, The Brutalist’s Felicity Jones, The Substance’s Margaret Qualley, and Conclave’s Isabella Rossellini.
Grande and the daughter of Nigerian immigrants will then compete for prizes at the 30th Critics’ Choice Awards, which air January 12 on E!/Peacock.
The Bye songstress also scored three nominations – including best pop vocal album for Eternal Sunshine – at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, which air February 2 on CBS.
Chu teased that the sequel Wicked: For Good, which doesn’t hit US theaters until November 21, will ‘get messy.’
But first, Cynthia will compete for the best actress in a musical/comedy trophy at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, which air this Sunday on CBS/Paramount+
Erivo faces heavy competition against Nightbi***’s Amy Adams, Emilia Pérez star Karla Sofía Gascón, Anora’s Mikey Madison, The Substance’s Demi Moore, and Challengers star Zendaya
And Ariana is nominated for best supporting actress against both Emilia Pérez stars Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldaña, The Brutalist’s Felicity Jones, The Substance’s Margaret Qualley, and Conclave’s Isabella Rossellini
Chu teased that the sequel Wicked: For Good, which doesn’t hit US theaters until November 21, will ‘get messy’
Ariana and Cynthia are especially excited for the world to see their upcoming farewell duet, For Good.
‘The scene that leads up to it — and afterwards — is quite a meal,’ Grande gushed.
‘I do remember, at a point, leaving my body and hovering for, like, the whole week.’
Erivo added: ‘That was a lot.’
Later this year, the A Little Night Music thespian will executive produce and star as London defense attorney Tessa in Susanna White’s big-screen adaptation of the play Prime Facie.
Cynthia will also voice a character called The Slink in Disney Jr. animated series Robogobo, which centers on a boy genius and his adopted five misfit pets.
Erivo literally built her entire career on playing prominent African-Americans like Aretha Franklin, Harriet Tubman, and The Color Purple protagonist Celie Harris-Johnson.