Michelle Yeoh on Ariana & Cynthia in 'Wicked,' Singing on Screen & Why Musical is so Popular | THR Video - video Dailymotion

Hollywood Journal

Michelle Yeoh explains how she became a part of the 'Wicked' cast and describes what it was like to sing in the film. Plus, she dishes on Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande's performance on screen while chatting with THR at the Los Angeles premiere.

Transcript

00:00Congratulations on this. So did John just come to you with this idea or how did he kind of first get involved in it?

00:06That's exactly how it happened. John M. Chu called and said, Michelle, please read this for me.

00:11I would love for you to play Madame Marvel. And I at that point had no clue what he was talking about

00:17because I had not seen Wicked, the musical before. I know Wizard of Oz, right? Who doesn't?

00:24But not Wicked because I hadn't been going to the theaters and not doing what I love,

00:31which is watching musicals for quite a while, I hated to say.

00:35So I read it and I then called John back and said, this is a musical and she sings.

00:42And she said, easy, you'll have fun. You're up for the challenge.

00:47And then the next thing I knew, I get this video call and it was him with Ariana and Cynthia.

00:54I say, it's imperative you come and join us now.

01:00And how did the singing live up to what you thought it would be?

01:03Were you nervous or how did you?

01:05Terrified. I was not just nervous.

01:08No, but, you know, Dominic, bless him, I was music supervisor, made sure I had a very good coach,

01:14one of the best in London.

01:16And Marie helped me to enjoy the process of opening up your voice.

01:22And as long as you're not tone deaf, you know, she said, you'll be fine.

01:27And so the process of exercising, learning to use the muscles in a different way,

01:33was actually very, very good for me because it helps with my voice, right, and as an actor.

01:40So I had fun.

01:43How many times have you seen Wicked on stage now?

01:45Did you run out and see it right after?

01:47No, no, I've seen it twice.

01:49I saw it in New York and then I saw it again in London because I have to know,

01:54it's been around, this property has been around for 20 years.

01:57There must be a very good reason.

02:00And of all ages, different generations, you know, from young kids to teenagers to adults

02:07to grandparents are there watching Wicked.

02:11So when I saw it, I thought, okay, I get it.

02:14I know why we all are so drawn to these characters because they're so relatable, basically.

02:21What was it like seeing Cynthia and Ariana transform into these two iconic women?

02:25They don't transform.

02:26They live, they become.

02:28It's amazing.

02:29I mean, the two of them, they're like the yin and yang.

02:32You know, they're so different.

02:34But at the same time, they just fit together with love and great energy.

Michelle Yeoh on Ariana & Cynthia in 'Wicked,' Singing on Screen & Why Musical is so Popular | THR Video

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