Amanda Seyfried is opening up about one of her most intense—and ultimately unsuccessful—audition experiences. The acclaimed actress recently gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at her audition journey for the upcoming Wicked movie adaptation, revealing that she auditioned six times for a role that eventually went to pop star Ariana Grande.
“I Loved It. I Wanted It.”
Speaking candidly on a podcast, Seyfried explained how much the opportunity meant to her.
“I’m in that privileged spot where I just don’t have to [audition],” she said. “But I like—I talked about this a lot. I auditioned like six times for Wicked… because that had to be really just right. And I loved it.”
Despite juggling an already packed schedule at the time, the Mean Girls and Les Misérables star made time to pursue the role, pouring her energy into intense vocal training and prep work.
“I was busy. I barely had time to do it, but I made it work,” she added. “I worked my ass off for years and years and years on that music. I’m just competitive with myself in a really healthy way.”
Singing with Cynthia Erivo: “A Moment in Itself”
In an earlier interview on Happy Sad Confused, Seyfried had shared that one of her audition rounds involved singing alongside Cynthia Erivo—who landed the role of Elphaba.
“I got to sing with Cynthia, and that was a moment in itself,” she recalled, acknowledging the gravity of that experience, even if she didn’t get the part.
No Regrets
Though she didn’t land the role and watched it go to Ariana Grande—whose performance has already earned Oscar buzz—Seyfried remains proud of her effort.
“I’ve never felt that solid in my voice than I did at the auditions,” she said. “And that’s kind of what I got out of it.”
Her reflection is a testament to the kind of dedication and resilience often hidden behind Hollywood’s casting decisions. For Seyfried, the audition process wasn’t a loss—it was a professional and personal win.
