Although Wicked: For Good was one of the most anticipated movies of 2025, at the end of the day, the movie went home with none, and fans, critics, and the rest of the world are shocked, especially since the first movie had been recognized so well. But for Ariana Grande, the lack of recognition was not one of bitterness but of contemplation, not of what was transpiring outside of her but of what was transpiring within. Speaking with Vogue Japan, she finally opens up about how she truly feels about her role in the Wicked movie.
Ariana Grande says awards matter less than pride in work
“I never dreamed of having this moment in my life,” she says. “Not in terms of awards—but in terms of being able to do work like this and feel proud of it.”
“There were times when my visibility felt louder than my work,” Grande admits. “My mom always reminded me what actually matters.”
“For the first time, I feel like the work is speaking for itself,” she says. “That’s more than enough.”
“Never in my life did I expect to be an Oscar-nominated actress; I just never thought I’d be seen that way by the industry that I love. I give my life to art every minute of every day. So to feel embraced back—and to share it with my mom—is so extraordinary.”
“I gave everything I had to Glinda,” she says softly. “And I’d do it again.”
Growing up, Grande, who is currently 32, got used to reinvention. She began as a young actress in Victorious, then became the face of pop music, and now she’s considering a career in film acting. Playing the role of Glinda was a landmark moment in Ariana’s career, as she lived her childhood dream with maximum accuracy and respect.
While she does not talk about receiving recognition for the awards, as mentioned earlier, she does talk about the creative team behind Wicked, thanking them while referring to all the women in her life as being the ones who helped her stay grounded. She reminisces about her late grandmother, Nonna, who she believes helped guide her through life with her frankness and humor, as well as her mother, Joan Grande. This grounding was ultimately the key throughout the course of the year, as she had to find the stamina to produce the expansive musical epic she had envisioned as well as the more vulnerable, minimalistic work of Eternal Sunshine.
While accolades may be important to the pop landscape, it does seem that Ms. Grande isn’t overly worried about the process. Moving forward, it does seem that Ms. Grande is more than happy to continue the path of her career, as future cinematic endeavors are on the horizon, as well as the prospect of returning to the stage. She isn’t worried about her legacy; rather, it is about her intentions. While the Academy may have chosen to look elsewhere this year, it does seem that Ms. Grande’s feelings of satisfaction are very much intact. While the landscape of the industry may be defined by the desire to be recognized, it does seem that Ms. Grande defines the current situation by something much more unique: clarity.
