Wicked Cast Plays "Off the Cuff": Holidays, Accents, Childhood VHS Tapes, and Stolen Costumes
VOGUE JAPAN
On the set of Wicked (the release is Wicked: For Good), Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, and Jonathan Bailey sat down for Vogue's "Off the Cuff," a quick-fire question game in six rounds. The cast read the questions to each other, so the session is partly an interview and partly the three of them teasing and complimenting one another. The transcript doesn't always make clear who answered what, and this article only attributes answers where the conversation makes the speaker clear.
Round One: Icebreakers
The first question, directed at Cynthia, was about where to take someone on holiday. The answer was Iceland, specifically the fjords. The reasoning was that it seems "the most unlikely place" for a beautiful, relaxing holiday, with the added point that "there's some really great spas there." It came with a gentle suggestion that the other person needed to relax.
Ariana, "sitting with two iconic Brits," was asked for her best British accent. She was reluctant but was told she's good at accents, and produced "Come along, sir." Bailey called it "late 1800s." Ariana said she didn't know why that version came to her. Someone also mentioned that she does a good impression of one of her co-stars, and she tried a few more lines while the others laughed and praised her.
Ariana then asked Jonathan who he would want to narrate his life. The answer was Peter Dinklage. Jonathan asked Cynthia for the coolest trick she can do. She put her hands in prayer position behind her back. Everyone called it silly and "incredible," and someone joked about "a thousand people" at home trying to copy it. Jonathan's most-played song is "Freedom" by George Michael.
Round Two: Personal Questions
When asked about a guilty pleasure, the answer was watching Housewives. One cast member said they had started one of the shows, lost interest, but still understood the appeal. That led to talk that a London edition is on the way. The group seemed to agree it was coming, though one of them said they hadn't seen an episode yet.
Asked which song puts her in a good mood right away, Ariana joked "Something bad," a reference to a song from Wicked, and admitted she does love it. Her real answer was "A Sentimental Man." She explained that it starts with "A," so when a phone plays music alphabetically it comes up first, which makes it "a good old pick-me-up."
Jonathan's favourite childhood film was The Snowman, based on Raymond Briggs. He guessed that not many people around the world know it, but called it beautiful. The others called it heartbreaking. He also said he had three VHS tapes growing up: Ants, which he loved, a Tina Turner live concert, and footage of Andre Agassi playing tennis. He admitted the last two aren't films, but they're what he watched.
The next prompt, "Something I'm secretly really good at," got confused, and after some back-and-forth it became a question about what Jonathan is secretly good at. The answer came from one of his co-stars, who praised him as a designer with "a really wonderful eye for a detail in creating fashionable things." The example was a Loewe T-shirt he designed that reads "Drink Your Milk," described as "tongue-in-cheek and fabulous." Jonathan admitted he was blushing. The co-star insisted they meant it seriously.
When asked about superstitions, the answer was a flat no, with nothing more to add. Ariana was then given the prompt "I love it when…" about Jonathan. After some confusion about whose perspective the sentence was from, she said she loves it when he gets the giggles. The group agreed that the giggles "anchor" them, and Ariana said she gets them all the time.
Round Three: Career Questions
The career round started with what Wicked unlocks that other roles haven't. The answer was about the character giving "a bit of a place for… rage." She was described as "a little bit unbridled" and "a little bit looser" than other characters, with "a little bit more fire," especially in the second movie. Another cast member added that there isn't always room for an actor to show rage.
Ariana was asked for her favourite song she has ever written. She said the answer changes, but for now it would be something from Eternal Sunshine, because that is "my newest child." She wouldn't pick one specific track.
Asked what they would do if they weren't actors, one cast member said they used to claim they wanted to be a pilot, but only as a pretence. The more sincere answer was music: playing the piano or another instrument. That set off a conversation about instruments. Someone played the clarinet, and another person said, "I played the French horn." The overlapping speech makes it hard to tell exactly who played what.
Round Four: Style Questions
Cynthia was asked for her favourite designer of all time. She refused to pick one and apologised. She explained that she is "an avid buyer and shopper of clothes and fashion" and truly loves it, which is why she couldn't choose. When asked whose wardrobe she'd swap with for a day, the answer was that it wouldn't be anyone current. It would be "a 60s girly."
Jonathan's style icons from growing up in the 90s were Princess Diana, George Michael, Mr. Motivator, and Timmy Mallett. He said the list was heading down "a really perilous path." The others called the mix fab and "so you," and pointed out that "Mr. Motivator is in the building today," meaning his outfit that day.
Jonathan's first big fashion purchase was a pair of Adidas poppers that he saved up for, which "was a big deal." Later, at about 22, he bought a Dior suit for a wedding. He called it "a real big moment" and said he still has it.
For the most-worn piece in the wardrobe, the answer was a pair of patchwork Kapital jeans found in a vintage store. The owner said you can't get them anymore, so they were really pleased to have found them.
When asked which item from Glinda's wardrobe they'd adopt, the first answer was "maybe some of her underwear," meaning the "cute little corsets and little underskirt situations," since the rest wouldn't suit "today's activities." Someone else pointed to a hooded cardigan. The owner said they already had it: "I stole it." That led to stories about taking costume pieces home. One cast member said they took their "whispering cloak," but did it openly, telling the crew "I'm taking this," and called themselves honest.
Round Five: Guess the Look
Cynthia was shown a zoomed-in image and recognised her look from the Tony Awards, the night she won her Tony. It was Roberto Cavalli. Another image turned out to be a look from a Paris Fashion Week show.
The last image got a reaction of "Holy hell. That's my ass." It was a look from the AMA Awards, worn with a 103-degree fever. When asked how they got through it, the answer was "you got to do what you got to do," along with "Delirious." Looking back, they called the crop "very funny" and the hair "really crazy," but added there's "a time and place for everything."
Round Six: Lightning Round
The final round was quick choices, though the cast often refused to pick one:
- Sunnies or hats: Sunnies.
- Céline Dion or Whitney Houston: Called "impossible." Someone joked "just say Mariah," and the answer was both.
- Aisle or window (Jonathan): The answer mentioned both, "aisle, window."
- International vacation or staycation (Cynthia): International. She said she loves a staycation and is a homebody, but once she's abroad, "you can't get me. I'm away."
- Cat or dog: After admitting they're "not good with the lightning round" and saying they love all animals ("It's like a farm"), the answer was dog.
- Early riser or night owl: Early riser.
- Sweet or salty (Cynthia): Both.
- Astrology or astronomy: Both, "why the hell not?"
- RuPaul's Drag Race or Great British Bake Off: "Well, I love soggy bottoms, so it's got to be RuPaul's Drag Race."
- Film or digital (Cynthia): Film.
- Live show or studio time: Studio time, with the caveat that it depends on the live show and the context.
- Lose your voice for a day or sing everything you have to say: Both, since singing all day would make you lose your voice anyway.
The cast finished by saying the game was "really fun" and thanking Vogue.
Are we in trouble? We're sorry. We have a lot to say. Big feelings here on the set of Wicked. Hi Vogue, this is Ariana Grande. I'm Cynthia Erivo. And I'm Jonathan Bailey, and this is Off the Cuff.
Round one, icebreakers. Are you ready? I think so. Cynthia. Yeah. Where would you like to take me on holiday? Iceland came to mind. Wow. We're going to the fjords. Yeah. I love it. It's sort of the most unlikely place that you could have the most beautiful sort of relaxing holiday, and I think you need to relax. Thank you. And there's some really great spas there.
Ariana, you're sitting with two iconic Brits. Give us your best accent. Oh, no. Yeah, go on. You're good at accents. By all means, then. Come along, sir. Very good. That's like late 1800s. Yeah, I don't know why that's what came to me. I know, but you do a really good me as well. Well, I try. Yeah, sometimes. Yeah, very good. Can you just do another money grab? Yeah, oh, that's good, yeah. Well, depends on her mood. Depends on what the circumstances are. It's wrong. You're talking to... It's wrong. You've got that on your nose, did you know? Just there. That's really good. That's really, really good. That's really, really good.
Ariana to Jonathan. Yes. If someone narrated your life, who would you want to do it? Peter Dinklage. Yes. You don't have to say that, by the... It's clear.
Jonathan to Cynthia. Okay, what is the coolest trick you can do? I can actually put my hands in prayer position behind my back. This is very silly. I love this. Wow. That was incredible. It was going to be the sound of... It's great. A thousand people trying to do that. Yeah.
Jonathan, what's your most played song, Jonathan? Freedom, George Michael. Love.
Round two, personal questions. What's your guilty pleasure? Watching Housewives. I started one of them. It lost me. Did it? Yeah. But I get the appeal. It's coming to London, I hear. Are you joking? I hear. I've not seen an episode. The Housewives of London? Yeah, I think it's coming. Am I right? Yes. We're right. Okay.
Ariana, which song instantly puts you in a good mood? Something Bad. Yeah, Something Bad. Actually, you love it. I do. I do love it. I also love A Sentimental Man. It is A on the iTunes, so it's the first thing that plays if your iPhone, if your phone goes alphabetically, so it is a good old pick-me-up, A Sentimental Man.
Jonathan, what was your favorite childhood film? Ariana, my favorite childhood film was... I would always say The Snowman. Oh, yeah. Raymond Briggs. Yeah, which I feel like maybe not many people globally are aware of The Snowman, but it's beautiful. It's heartbreaking. Oh my gosh. Christmas film. Absolutely love it. I had three VHSs growing up, and one was Antz. Oh, Antz. Which I loved. Big hit. I've been thinking about that a lot, and then there was a Tina Turner live VHS, and there was Andre Agassi just playing tennis. So, they're not films, but that's what I used to watch.
Cynthia. Yes. Something I'm secretly really good at is... I think this is... Maybe this is just dot dot dot. Hang on. What are you secretly really good at, Ariana? I thought we asked this one already. No, something... Oh, you are secretly really good at. Johnny is secretly really good at. I understand. I actually think that he's a really good designer. I think you've got a really wonderful eye for detail in creating fashionable things. There's a T-shirt that he designed, Drink Your Milk, Loewe Drink Your Milk, which I think is... It is spectacular. I just think it's really tongue-in-cheek and fabulous. Are you blushing? What are you blushing? Yeah, I am blushing actually. No, I'm being so serious. I think it's fantastic. Thank you. Yeah. Also, but come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. All right. I love it. I think it's great.
Are you superstitious? If so, what's one superstition you believe in the most? No. I don't think I am. That's about it. I don't know that I have more to say on that matter. Carrying right along.
Ariana to Jonathan. I love it when... I love it when... when he's, well, you know... Oh, about me. I'm always confused by the perspective. Okay. I love it when you get... Connie was at the giggles. Yeah, we get it bad. Yeah, I love it actually. Anchors us. I know, but also you can giggle. I love... I get the giggles all the time.
Round three, career question. What does Wicked unlock in you that other roles have not? I think she sort of gave me a bit of a place for, like, any rage. She's a little bit unbridled compared to other characters. She's a little bit looser, especially in the second movie. She's just got a little bit more fire in her than a lot of the other characters, you know. Yeah. So I think I've been able to unlock that. Hell yeah. You sure have. Not always space to be able to show rage. Yes. True. Yeah.
What's your favorite song that you've ever written? It does change, I guess, but at the moment it would have to be something from Eternal Sunshine, 'cause that's my newest child. I can't pick a favorite. I can't today.
What would you be doing if you weren't an actor? I used to say I wanted to be a pilot, but that was just to pretend that... Okay. I'd be in, I don't know, music. Yeah, I'd be... Yeah, I don't mean that. Yeah. I mean that. I don't mean that. I mean that I was thinking about... but I'd play, like, the piano or, you know, like a musical instrument, or the flutes. The flutes. Clarinet. Love. I played the clarinet. Did you play? Do you play clarinet? Well, I played it, yeah. I did play it. I did, yeah. Do you actually play that? Yeah, well, I did, but it's sort of a real... what, yeah. I used to play... Did you, the clarinet? Yes, yes, that was my instrument. I played the French horn.
We're now going to round four, style questions. Cynthia, who is your favorite designer of all time? Oh my god. No, I'm not... I can't have an answer to that. I'm so sorry. I will not. I am an avid buyer and shopper of clothes and fashion. I love it. Truly, I do.
If you could swap wardrobes with someone for a day, who would you choose? Oh, I don't know. But it wouldn't be someone from now, you know? Be like a 60s girly. I am very... Bieber's cool.
Jonathan. Yes. Who is your style icon? Growing up in the 90s, Princess Diana. Love. George Michael. Love. Mr. Motivator. Love that. Right? Color? Oh my god. If you don't know, get to know. Timmy Mallett. Oh my god. I'm now going down a really perilous path. But that's kind of good. Kind of fab. That combination is... But it is also so you. That is actually... So, Mr. Motivator is in the building today in this. Perfect.
Let's answer these next questions really fast. We can do it. We can do it. ...and fashion purchase, Jonathan. Well, the thing that I thought was, I saved up to buy a pair of Adidas poppers. You know the... That was a big deal. Yeah, yeah. And then I bought a Dior suit for a wedding when I was, I think, 22. Well done. And it was a real big moment. Well done. Beautiful. I've still got it.
What is the most worn piece in your wardrobe? Currently, these really cool Kapital jeans. I love Kapital. I love... and they're patchwork, and I found them at, like, a vintage store. You can't get them anymore. So, I'm really, really pleased that I found them.
What's one item from Glinda's wardrobe that you would incorporate into your own? Oh my. Maybe some of her underwear. She's got some cute little corsets and little underskirt situations. Maybe, perhaps. All right. But the rest doesn't really go with today's activities. Your hooded cardigan. Oh, yes, I have that. I stole it. That works for today, for real. You should have done that with your gray one. I just took mine. I said, "Take matters into your hands, put it in the car, and take it home." I took my cloak, my whispering cloak, and I told them when I was doing it. I'm an honest... I said to them, I said, "I'm taking this."
Round five. Okay, guess the look. Okay, Cynthia. Yes. Where is this look from? Ooh. Okay. Oh, that's the Tonys. I got to show you. The Tony Awards is the one I won my Tony. It is Roberto Cavalli. Amazing. Oh, it's zoomed in. Yeah. Oh yeah, and then now I get to show you. Got it. I understand. So it's not like a magic eye. I understand, gorgeous. Yes, it is. Perfect.
Where is this look from? That's a me. That's the me that's in the Paris Fashion Week show, you see.
Please tell me what this look is. Whoa. Holy, holy hell. That's my... That's my ass. At the AMA Awards, and I had a fever. I had a 103 fever. Oh my god. Yes, I did. How did you... how did you get through that? I, you know, you got to do what you got to do. Delirious. Oh yeah, that crop was very funny. And that hair is really crazy as well. But you know, a time and place for everything.
Round six. Okay, sunnies or hats? Sunnies. Celine Dion or Whitney Houston? What? That's like impossible. That's so... Just say Mariah. Oh god, both. Can I say both? Yes. Both, both. I'm going to say both.
Jonathan, aisle or window? Aisle, window. Cynthia, international vacation or staycation? I'm going to say international. Though I love a staycation, I really do. Surprise me though. I know, because I'm a homebody, but if I'm international, you can't get me. I'm away.
Cat or dog? And currently I need it. Cat or dog? You see, I'm not good with the lightning round. I'm not good with the lightning round. Where are we now? What did you say? All animals. All animals. Okay, okay. It's like a farm. Dog. I'm going to say dog. I'm going to say dog, but I love all animals. I can't do lightning.
Early riser or night owl? Me. Yeah. Early, you. Yeah. Cynthia, sweet or salty? Both. Oh, yeah. Sweet and salty. Astrology or astronomy? Both. Why the hell not? RuPaul's Drag Race or Great British Bake Off? Well, I love soggy bottoms, so it's got to be RuPaul's Drag Race.
Cynthia, film or digital? Film. Live show or studio time? Oh, god. I mean, I'd... studio time. I would... depends on the live show though. I feel it's like, depends on the context. Lose your voice for a day or sing everything you have to say? Well, if I sang for a day, I'd lose my voice anyway. Both.
That was really fun. Yeah. That was really fun. I enjoyed that. Thank you all so much. Thank you, Vogue. Thanks for watching. This has been Off the Cuff.
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