Glinda Upland, aka Glinda the Good, is one of two leads in the Broadway musical and film adaptation Wicked.
Loosely based on the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel, Wicked is an American musical fantasy film that was directed by Jon M Chu. The film was released in 2024 and is also known as Wicked: Part 1 and covers the original musical’s first part while the second film, Wicked: For Good, will cover the second. The first film was released in 2024 and became a critical hit, and was also nominated for 10 Academy Awards in the process. The second film is set to be released in November 2025 after filming completed in January 2024.
Who is Glinda in Wicked?
Glinda Upland, better known as Glinda the Good, is the deuteragonist in the Broadway musical, and later film adaptation, Wicked. She is one of the two female leads in the musical that focuses on her relationship with Elphaba, who later becomes the Wicked Witch of the West. While her role was minor in the novel, things changed in the musical and films as Glinda’s role was expanded.
She is portrayed as a bubbly and popular girl who is initially shallow and self-centered and then undergoes a change over the course of the story. She also considers Elphaba to be her closest friend even though the two grow apart.
Also read: Cast of Wicked
Who portrays Glinda in Wicked?
Glinda has been portrayed by several actresses on both Broadway and film ever since her role was conceived in 1995. She was most famously portrayed by Kristin Chenoweth on stage. However, in the 2024 film Wicked and its subsequent sequel that is set to be released in 2025, Glinda is portrayed by actress and singer Ariana Grande. Born on June 26th, 1993, Grande is an American singer, songwriter, and actress who is regarded as a pop icon thanks to her success ever since her debut.
That has translated into her acting career with the now 31-year-old thriving in various roles including as Glinda the Good, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award. Not only that, she has also had roles in films like Don’t Look Up, Victorious, Underdogs, and several others throughout her career.
Also read: What is Wicked about?
FAQs on Glinda in Wicked
A. Glinda is considered to be good in Wicked.
A. No, as per various interviews by Gregory Maguire, he revealed that the two characters aren’t lovers although he did want “sexual orientation and sexual diversity” to be a part of the story.
A. As of 2025, Ariana Grande has released a total of seven studio albums.
