Amanda Seyfried may have just ended months of fan speculation about who Cynthia Erivo, 38, was shading when she talked about the auditions for Wicked. 

Amanda made an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, and said, ‘I knew Wicked was coming, so I was able to really prepare, and I’m telling you, I’ve never felt that solid in my voice than I did at the auditions.’ 

‘I also got to sing with Cynthia [Erivo], and that was a moment in itself,’ Amanda said on the podcast. 

In November, Cynthia did a joint interview with The New York Times, where she said it was ‘no surprise whatsoever’ to her when she learned Ariana Grande, 31, had gotten the role of Glinda.

‘I said [at the time], “Thank God,”‘ Ariana recalled, with Cynthia adding: ‘Thank goodness, because it was not the two ladies that I was auditioning with.’

While Cynthia did not name who else she’d auditioned with, Seyfried, 39,  did reveal in 2022 that she had tried out for the part of Glinda, but didn’t specify if she auditioned alongside Cynthia.

She auditioned at the same time she was filming The Dropout, in which she played disgraced scientist Elizabeth Holmes and won and Emmy for her role. 

Amanda Seyfried may have just ended months of fan speculation about who Cynthia Erivo , 38, was shading when she talked about the auditions for Wicked. Seen here on March 5, 2025

In a joint interview with The New York Times in November, Erivo said it was ‘no surprise whatsoever’ to her when she learned Ariana Grande, 31, had gotten the role of Glinda. Seen here in 2025

Amanda has made peace with the fact that she wasn’t cast as Glinda. She even lavished praise on Ariana for her performance.

‘I do, again, think everything happens for a reason,’ she said before adding: ‘I also got to sing with Cynthia, and that was a moment in itself.’

Read More Amanda Seyfried is fiercely praised for showing off her eczema in makeup-free video

The other star rumored to have been in contention for Glinda is Renee Rapp, though she’s never confirmed that. 

Amanda pᴀssed on another famous role, that of Gamora in the blockbuster film Guardians Of The Galaxy, opposite Chris Pratt, more than a decade ago. 

While promoting her new Peacock series Long Bright River, the actress dished about the many opportunities she been blessed to have had over her career.

And when it came to the topic of ones that almost happened, Seyfried got honest about the opportunity that came along with starring on the original 2014 superhero film, directed by James Gunn, based on the Marvel Comics.

She admitted to feeling it was a risk at the time the role was offered to her, during the same interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast on March 20.

‘Being a part of the first Marvel movie that bombs ain’t good for your career,’ she shared with host Josh Horowitz.

While Erivo did not name who else she’d auditioned with, Seyfried, 39, revealed in 2022 that she tried out for the part of Glinda. Seen here on March 2, 2025

Amanda said, ‘I knew Wicked was coming, so I was able to really prepare, and I’m telling you, I’ve never felt that solid in my voice than I did at the auditions.’ Ariana and Cynthia seen here on March 2, 2025

She auditioned at the same time she was filming The Dropout, in which she played disgraced scientist Elizabeth Holmes and won and Emmy for her role. Seen here on March 5, 2025

‘I thought that because this was about a talking tree and a talking raccoon that it was gonna be Marvel’s first bomb and that Chris Pratt and I would never work again. I was wrong.’

The Allentown, Pennsylvania native never considered the possible role of Gamora, which ultimately was played by Zoe Saldaña, a risk due to the work of Gunn, who co-wrote the screenplay along with helming the project.

‘[He’s] a genius and he’s fun and he’s a wonderful filmmaker, and he can make anything work,’ she said of the filmmaker. ‘

But I was way too scared. I was at a precarious moment in my career, and I didn’t want to suffer for the work.’

Guardians Of The Galaxy went on to become a blockbuster smash, grossing a whopping $773.4 million globally while spending a net of $195.9 million on the project. 

Despite all the success of the superhero films Seyfried still stands by her decision to listen to her intuition and not take on the role.

‘I had done some green screen stuff, and it wasn’t my cup of tea, and I don’t regret any decision that I made,’ she stated. ‘I made it for myself in the moment that I made it. It was good for me then, and it’s good for me now.’

In fact, the Mean Girls actress couldn’t be happier for everyone involved in Guardian Of The Galaxy, feeling secure in the belief that it all worked out just as it should have. 

Amanda has made peace with the fact that she wasn’t cast as Glinda. She even lavished praise on Ariana for her performance. Seen here on March 10, 2025

‘I also think that Zoe [Saldaña] and Chris and everybody who’s a part of that movie are having the best time and it worked for them, and I love that. And I love that I was able to stay with my gut.’

While reflecting on her professional career that dates back to 1996, Seyfried was asked about the moment or job that she felt she had truly made it as an actor.

‘I knew I had gotten into a sphere when I was in Mama Mia!’ she told Horowitz. ‘And when Mama Mia ! was huge I was getting more opportunities from that.’

She continued, ‘And over the years the opportunities were still there but they’re different, and they evolve as you evolve all depending on the choices that you make. But also the fact that you evolving and getting older and are attracted to different things.

‘I’m lucky that I still have a lot of opportunities and now it feels like I’ve solidified some kind of place in that people trust me as an actor and respect as an actor.’