- Ariana Grande has revealed the secret to her on-screen chemistry with co-star Jonathan Bailey
- The pair bonded over their love of musical theater
- Bailey agreed, “It gave us fizz!”
Jonathan Bailey is one of the stars of Wicked – and now fans may have the secret to his palpable chemistry with his co-stars.
The Bridgerton actor, 36, has been lauded by viewers for his performance as Fiyero in the Broadway musical movie adaptation – with fans taking to social media to tell others that “his sex appeal should be a controlled substance”.
While many have begged Bailey to “teach his ways in schools”, Ariana Grande – who plays Glinda, his love interest, in the film – has revealed that their on-screen romance was boosted by their love of theater.
The pair both began acting onstage at an early age – with Grande making her Broadway debut at 15 in the musical Thirteen, and Bailey taking on roles as a child actor with the Royal Shakespeare Company, before moving on to West End productions like Les Misérables.
“I feel like we were both very theater children in the room,” Grande revealed in an interview with People.
After Bailey agreed that the “theater children” energy was “incessant”, Grande continued, “We were very giggly together. That was the tough thing with us. We were the giggliest pair. It carbonated our chemistry.”
Bailey agreed, “It gave us fizz!”
Grande, 31, couldn’t help but continue to sing her co-star’s praises, revealing that the pair were “falling for each other as friends in real life” while their characters fell for one another, too.
“That was such a beautiful part of it. We had the most beautiful time,” she said.
Mescal brands the Wicked cast ‘extraordinary’
Grande wasn’t the only one to have complimentary words about the cast – in fact, a man who should be their rival also had nothing but high praise for the likes of Grande, Bailey, and Cynthia Erivo.
Despite their movies going head to head at the global box office – in what is being dubbed ‘Glicked’ – Gladiator II star Paul Mescal had only good things to say about the movie.
In an interview with Attitude, the Irish actor, 28, revealed, “I met Cynthia and Ariana at the Academy Gala very briefly, and I’ve seen the film. I think they’re both extraordinary.
“And I’m a musical theater guy, I’m a big advocate for that film.”
Mescal also admitted that he doesn’t mind too much about what fans would like to call the match up – as long as they see both movies.
“Give it whatever title you want to give it,” he continued Mescal. “[Barbenheimer] was an amazing thing for cinema in general.
“If we can get people in the door for both films, not only is it great for us, it’s great for Wicked, but it’s great for the cinema industry in general. So, if you like cinema, support it.”
