And costar Ethan Slater, who began dating Ariana in 2023 after meeting on the film, praised their friendship. “They set the tone for all of us,” the Boq actor, explained to E! News in November 2024. “It felt familial. It felt like we were all in it together and that started with them.”
According to Marissa Bode, who plays Elphaba’s little sister Nessarose, Ariana and Cynthia’s friendship strengthened their performances.
“They have such a strong bond that I admire so much in the movie,” she added in the joint interview with Ethan. “These young girls are just figuring themselves out and translating into who they are as people—having a strong and loving bond to one another. It's really cool to see and it's really special.”
