Michelle Yeoh Admits Nerves Facing ‘Wicked’ Co-Stars

Michelle Yeoh, who’s made a name for herself with standout roles like in Everything, Everywhere, All At Once, recently shared a side of herself punters haven’t seen before—her nerves about singing on the big screen. While that wild sci-fi flick had just about everything else, it didn’t call for a tune. But when Yeoh sat down for a yarn on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, she let slip how she ended up in the much-hyped Wicked films, which have already smashed box office records and are set to do it again with the sequel.

Despite the iconic image of Dorothy’s red shoes, Yeoh confessed she’d never really been into the Oz universe before a call from director Jon M Chu changed everything.

“He called me and he said, ‘I would like you to read the script, I really would love for you to play Madame Morrible’. And I go, ‘OK’.”

That initial buzz quickly turned to worry. After reading the script, Yeoh started doubting whether she was the right fit for the part.

“I know The Wizard Of Oz very well, but I hadn’t seen the musical Wicked. I call him back, and I say, ‘Jon, my love, it’s a musical, and I don’t sing’. Not properly or professionally or anything like that.”

Thrown in the Deep End

Chu, with his mind made up, wasn’t having any of it. Yeoh said,

“So then, typical of Jon, he says ‘don’t worry about it’. I swear to god this guy is a visionary, and he can convince you to do the impossible.”

Still, she wasn’t sure.

“I start mulling over it, going, ‘How can I pull this off?'”

It didn’t take long for Chu to rope in Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who play Elphaba and Glinda, to help twist her arm. The pair rang Yeoh and told her,

“It’s imperative and important that you join us now”.

Even after agreeing, Yeoh’s nerves didn’t settle. She admitted,

“When I had to sing, I must say, I was terrified. These two girls…”

It’s pretty normal to feel a bit rattled starting a new gig, but you wouldn’t expect someone as seasoned as Yeoh to be hit with a bout of imposter syndrome. Usually, the first day on set is enough to shake off the jitters, but not this time. She still felt her singing wasn’t up to scratch, especially compared to her co-stars.

On Set with the Pros

Yeoh didn’t hold back about how daunting it was to perform alongside Erivo and Grande.

“Bloody hell! They sing live! Cut me some slack, please! When we started my song [‘The Wizard And I’] with Cynthia Erivo, I was literally squeaking.”

The cast is a force to be reckoned with, and while the world of Oz might look magical on screen, behind the scenes it’s a different story. The current promo run has been full of odd tales, from arrests on the yellow-brick carpet to matching tattoos that are a bit over the top.

It’s a lot to take in, especially if you’re not the one in pink or green. From the outside, Yeoh held her own, but it’s fair to say she probably won’t be rushing into another singing role any time soon.