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.
Category
✨
PeopleTranscript
00:00Congratulations on this. So did John just come to you with this idea or how did he
00:05kind of first get involved in it? That's exactly how it happened. John M. Chu called and
00:09said Michelle please read this for me I would love for you to play Madame
00:13Marvel and I at that point had no clue what he was talking about because I had
00:19not seen Wicked the musical before. I know Wizard of Oz right who doesn't but
00:25not Wicked because I hadn't been going to the theaters and not doing what I
00:31love which is watching musicals for quite a while I hated to say so I read
00:37it and I then called John back and said this is a musical and she sings and she
00:43said easy you'll have fun you're up for the challenge and then the next thing I
00:48knew I get this video call and it was him with Ariana and Cynthia saying it's
00:55imperative you come and join us now. And how did the singing live up to what you
01:03thought it would be? Were you nervous or how did... Terrified I was not just nervous
01:07no but you know Dominic bless him I was music supervisor made sure I had a very
01:13good coach one of the best in London and Marie helped me to enjoy the process of
01:20opening up your voice and as long as you're not toned down you know she said
01:25you'll be fine and so the process of exercising the learning to use the
01:32muscles in a different way was actually very very good for me because it helps
01:37with my voice and as an actor so I had fun. How many times have you seen Wicked
01:45on stage now did you run out and see it right after? I've seen it twice I saw it
01:49in New York and then I saw it again in London because I have to know
01:53it's been around this property has been around for 20 years there must be a very
01:58good reason and of all ages different generations you know from young kids to
02:05teenagers to adults to grandparents are there watching Wicked so when I saw it I
02:12got okay I get it I know why why we all are so drawn to these characters because
02:18they're so relatable basically. What was it like seeing Cynthia and Ariana transform
02:23into these two iconic women? They don't transform they live they become it's
02:28amazing I mean the two of them they're like the yin and yang you know they're
02:33so different but at the same time they just fit together with love and great
02:37energy