Amanda Seyfried Wishes She Hadn't Been Kept 'In The Dark' After Rigorous Wicked Audition Process

Amanda Seyfried has suggested she didn’t feel wholly “appreciated” after auditioning numerous times to play Glinda in Wicked.

In a new interview with Radio Times, promoting her new religious musical The Testament Of Ann Lee, the Oscar nominee was asked about Wicked, and whether she was “over” auditioning six times for the role that eventually went to Ariana Grande.

“Everything happens for a reason,” she responded.

The Mamma Mia! star has been transparent about the hard work that went into auditioning for the role of Oz’s iconic good witch, and admitted there was one thing about the process that left a sour taste in her mouth.

“I wasn’t sad I didn’t get it, but I guess I wish it had been communicated to me in a better way. I don’t like to be in the dark about things,” she continued. “I like to feel appreciated.”

Amanda had previously told Backstage’s In the Envelope podcast that she had auditioned six times for Jon M Chu’s musical adaptation.

“I loved it. I was busy. I barely had time to do it, but I made it work. I worked my ass off for years and years and years on that music. I’m competitive… with myself in a really healthy way,” she explained.

Despite feeling underappreciated when auditioning for the role, it didn’t stop her family from loving the film and Ariana’s performance.

“It’s an extravaganza, which is what [Ariana] does really well. And [my kids] have been playing the soundtrack nonstop. And everything is as it’s meant to be for sure,” she told People last year.

Amanda first revealed she auditioned to play Glinda in 2022, telling Backstage that she had her sights set on musicals after disliking how she sounded in 2013’s Les Misérables.

“I think it taught me how far I’ve come as a singer, which I really wanted to prove. Because ever since Les Mis’ I was like, ‘I need to be better. I need to do better’. So whatever comes next in terms of musicals, I’m finally prepared,” she said.

While she may not have travelled to Oz with Wicked, she has been critically praised for her role as Ann Lee, the real-life originator of the Shakers’ religious movement in Mona Fastvold’s The Testament Of Ann Lee.

The Testament Of Ann Lee is out in UK cinemas now.