Grande was nominated for best supporting actress for “Wicked.”
Congratulations on your first nomination. Where were you when you found out?
I’m in London. I just got out of the bath. Oh! My therapist is calling to congratulate me. Hold on. I’ll tell her I’ll be right back. Oh my god, I’m sorry. I don’t even know what to say. It’s really hard to speak. I just got off the phone with my mom and my best friends and Kristin Chenoweth. And I have been texting with Cynthia [Erivo] and Jon [M. Chu] all morning.
What was your reaction when you heard your name?
I sobbed. I actually haven’t stopped sobbing since then. It’s been really overwhelming.
How did it feel to have your co-star Bowen Yang announce your name?
It felt like home. I love him so much, and he is my one of my best friends in the world. And he looked so chic. He texted me right before wishing me luck, and he texted me a week before saying, “I just found out that I’m doing this, and I can’t wait to hopefully utter your name.”
What does it mean for you and Cynthia to both get nominations?
It feels like such a magnificent celebration of this hard work that we were able to do together. It feels like we were passed the wand and broom by Kristin and Idina Menzel. They were nominated for the Tonys together, and now Cynthia and I get to have this recognition together.
Is this better than getting a Grammy nomination?
Oh my goodness. I’m burying my head in my tissue box. [Laughs]. Um… next question.
“Wicked” got 10 nominations in total. Why didn’t Jon get a nod for best director?
He is incredibly brilliant, and all of the other nominations stems from Jon. I know he feels like seeing ‘Wicked’ be celebrated is a celebration of him as well. We just got off Facetime, and I told him how much I love him, and the truth, which is that absolutely none of this could have happened without his leadership, brilliance, empathy and thoughtfulness.
Who are you going to bring with you to the ceremony?
I haven’t even had a chance to consider yet. I need a table for 40 Italians from Boca. How do we work that out?