It ‘really allowed us to grow’

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo say they made “a clear choice” to be friends with each other when they were cast Evil – something not all stars do on film shoots. Judging by their amazing on-screen chemistry, the choice paid off in more ways than one.

Grande tells Yahoo Entertainment that she was smitten with Erivo two years before they met when she saw Harriet star sing”Stand up” at the 2020 Oscars.

“I remember … I turned to my mom and said, ‘That’s the best female voice I’ve ever heard in my life. What’s going on? Like I need to meet her and tell her and one day sing with her.’ And now we’re here, and we’ve just been taking such good care of each other,” says the 31-year-old Grammy winner. “Since the moment we met in a very real way, in a no BS way, honest and very communicative and kind and loving friendship.”

Erivo, who plays Elphaba to Grande’s Glinda, agrees.

“I think what I love about what we’ve done is that there was a clear choice at the beginning of this to do it and take care of each other, to be honest,” she says . “Always making space for each other, which I think has just allowed us to really grow as artists and in our personal lives as well. I think it’s been really special to do that.”

Erivo, 37, says it was “weird” because she and Grande kept “circling each other” before they were cast in the film, but never actually met. “We’ve been singing these characters’ songs, but in opposition,” she explains, “and that’s kind of been it for us until now.”

A fan of the stage musical before she was cast in the film, Erivo says she “definitely” connects with Elphaba.

“I understand how it feels to be very different, but you know, that ease (of Glinda), it’s something that’s definitely part of who I am as well,” she says. “I don’t necessarily always get to show it, but it’s there, you know? It’s the nature of it. We (contain) crowds.”

That ease is something Evil cast and crew saw in Erivo and Grande.

Marissa Bode, who plays Elphaba’s sister Nessarose, says Grande “from the jump” went out of her way to be “incredibly welcoming.”

“I hadn’t met Ari, and my first day she had a bouquet of flowers in my green room and a little card that said ‘Welcome,’ which was really sweet,” the actress said.

“I think they both had such a generosity of spirit, and from the second we were all on stage together, they set the tone and led by example,” Ethan Slater – who also happens to be Grande’s boyfriend – tells Yahoo.

“They let their talent speak for themselves and then they could just be really nice to everyone,” continued Slater, who plays Boq, a Munchkinlander in love with Glinda. “And the whole set — the crew, the cast, everyone who was there with us in Oz — loved them both so deeply, and I think that created a really great warm atmosphere.”

Evil is first in cinemas on Friday 22 Nov.