Lizzo dazzled on the cover of Variety’s latest issue where she opened up about managing her fame, changing the conversation about body positivity and losing out on a big Disney role.
The 33-year-old Grammy winner admitted she’s no good at auditions and lost out on playing Ursula the sea witch in the upcoming live-action remake of The Little Mermaid.
Melissa McCarthy ended up snagging the role and Lizzo – whose real name is also Melissa – revealed that the two connected after the fact at an Adele show and had a sweet interaction.
‘Everyone knows I auditioned for Ursula in [Disney’s upcoming live-action] ‘The Little Mermaid,’ and I didn’t get it. But you know, I’m fine as hell,’ Lizzo said.
‘That has nothing to do with Ursula, but I was down to make Ursula a THOT, shaking a**,’ she quipped.
Melissa McCarthy ended up scoring the sea witch role and had no idea Lizzo was up for the part. The pair ran into one another while at an Adele concert and managed to avoid an awkward moment.
‘She was like, ‘Hi, I’m Melissa.’ And I was like, ‘Hi, I’m Melissa. And I also auditioned for Ursula,’ Lizzo recalled. ‘And she was like, ‘Well, why the hell did I get the part?,’ which is a classic Melissa McCarthy thing to say.
‘And then I was like, ‘Girl, because my audition was terrible.’ And I say that as Tyler Perry walks by. And I was like — ruined my chances there,’ she added.
Interestingly enough, Lizzo and Melissa McCarthy ended up learning they shared more than potential roles and first names.
‘And then she goes, ‘This is my daughter Vivian.’ And I’m like, ‘Get out of here, because my name is Melissa Viviane.’ We were looking at each other like, ‘What the hell is going on?’
While Lizzo admitted that she isn’t great at auditions and doesn’t like doing them, she told Variety that trying out for Ursula wasn’t all bad
‘She is looking for confident, bada** women to join her world tour, and only the most talented dancers will have what it takes to twerk it out on world stages with her and join in the ranks of the elite BIG GRRRLS.’
While competing for the top prize, the ten compeтιтors live all together in the Big Grrrls House, where tensions are bound to boil. Lizzo hosts the eight-episode unscripted series and serves as executive producer.
After making its premiere on Prime Video, Lizzo’s Watch Out For The Big Grrrls will eventually be released in countries and territories around the world in May 2022, according to ᴅᴇᴀᴅline.
Lizzo’s Watch Out For The Big Grrrls is part of the Juice songstress’ first-look deal with Amazon Studios, which she signed in 2020.
Body representation in mainstream media is something near and dear to Lizzo’s heart, as she explained to Variety.