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Ethan Slater went through a “wicked” transformation to play Boq.
During an appearance on the Today show on Friday, Nov. 21, the actor, 33, opened up about the grueling process for both Wicked and Wicked: For Good, revealing that he spent more time in hair and makeup than stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.
“Even in movie one, for some reason I was in the chair for the longest of anyone,” Slater shared, before joking, “I’m very particular.”
The actor then clarified that he wore “a lot of hair extensions” for the role. “It was my hair but they wanted to make it thicker, fuller, a little brighter, and [add] freckles and all this stuff.”
The star called out the hair and makeup artist, Zoey Stones, who he says “was amazing.”
When co-host Shaneille Jones mentioned that some women sleep on their stomach so they can do their hair at night and not mess it up, Slater replied, “You think I didn’t try it? I tried it. I tried everything to make it easier.”
“But no, there were days in the second movie where I was in the chair for five hours,” he added.
Slater then confirmed that the hours spent in hair and makeup came before his call time to set. “Which sounds bad but there was plenty to do,” he said.
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In an interview with Extra at the New York City premiere of the second Wicked film, Slater praised his girlfriend’s performance as Glinda, as well as Erivo’s turn as Elphaba, in the musical adaptation.
“Ariana [Grande]’s performance is out of this world and Cynthia [Erivo]’s performance is unbelievable.”
The actor also shouted nout Grande’s costars, adding, “And Johnny [Bailey] is so beautiful, and Michelle [Yeoh] and Jeff [Goldblum] and I got to work with Marissa [Bode], you know, from this close away for this whole movie and yet getting to see her on the big screen, it’s just so moving.”
“I’m so proud of this movie and it’s so different from the first one, and yet it feels like the obvious true continuation of it,” Slater added, before speaking on Grande’s friendship with Erivo.
“They really do just communicate off camera even more than they do on camera. And I think that that’s what makes their friendship really beautiful to witness is the ways that they help each other through… the craziness of this,” he said.
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PEOPLE first confirmed Slater and Grande’s relationship in July 2023.
In November, a source told PEOPLE that the couple are “making it work” despite their jam-packed schedules.
“They both have a lot going on, but their relationship is the real deal,” the source said. “They’re incredibly supportive of each other’s careers and so excited for everyone to see their new film.”
Grande shared photos from the London premiere featuring her Wicked: For Good cast mates— including a sweet snapshot of Slater — as well as her mother Joan, father Ed, brother Frankie, director Jon M. Chu, costar Cynthia Erivo and stylist Law Roach.
