Young Actress in Wicked Film Shares Experience and Excitement

Karis Musongole, a 10-year-old from Manchester, who portrays the young, green-skinned Elphaba in the movie Wicked, described the entire experience as “just amazing”. She played the younger iteration of lead actress Cynthia Erivo’s character and collaborated closely with Erivo and co-star Ariana Grande on the production, set to debut in cinemas on Friday. Musongole stated that her involvement in Wicked held significant meaning for her, noting that both the filming environment and the individuals participating were “beautiful”. Her best friend, nine-year-old Harriet Ryan from Tameside, also appeared in the film, portraying a munchkin. This prequel to The Wizard of Oz, adapted from the enduring West End and Broadway musical, additionally includes performances by Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, and Peter Dinklage. The narrative follows Elphaba and Glinda, two student witches destined to become the Land of Oz’s Wicked Witch of the West and Good Witch of the North. Karis, visible in full green make-up in the movie’s trailer, recently attended the film’s London premiere, joining her co-stars on the green carpet, and informed BBC Radio Manchester that the evening had been an “incredible” night. “It was amazing to see so many people that were really excited for me and really kind,” she stated. She added, “To be a part of Wicked means a lot to me. It’s just amazing. The set is beautiful, and the people are beautiful.” Musongole expressed enjoyment in portraying the young Elphaba, describing the character as “very smart and humble, but because she’s green-skinned, she gets picked on”. Harriet commented that collaborating with Ariana Grande was “very magical”. “I had a big part at the start of the scene and I got to tell her ‘why does wickedness happen?’,” she recounted. She characterized the star as “very beautiful” and “very, very high-pitched”. She further mentioned that her time on set “felt like I was in a fairytale”. The two friends first met at a local performing arts group and secured their parts via Warrington’s Lauren Kelly Casting. Agent Lauren Kelly stated that upon receiving the call regarding Hattie, “I was absolutely overwhelmed and shocked that I managed to get a little girl from here into what was definitely shaping up to be the film of the year”. She added that when Karis’s offer subsequently arrived, she “cried actual tears”. She concluded, “To have Hattie already down there filming was amazing, but for her friend to then book the younger version of the title role was just the icing on the cake.” Both girls expressed their hope that these significant opportunities would result in additional film roles and a sustained acting career. Karis further commented, “I would like to carry on with main character vibes.” The best of BBC Radio Manchester is available on Sounds, and updates from BBC Manchester can be followed on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas can also be submitted to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk and through Whatsapp at 0808 100 2230. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites. Further information on their external linking policy is available.