We almost didn't get treated to Michelle Yeoh's appearance in upcoming movie Wicked, and apparently we have Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo to thank for her change of heart.
The Everything Everywhere All at Once star just appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and explained that she was originally dead set on refusing the role of Madame Morrible because it meant she would have to sing.
"I didn't know you could sing," Fallon told her after he brought up Wicked.
"Neither did I!" Yeoh fired back.
The actress recalled director Jon M. Chu calling her to offer her the role, and how excited she was until she looked further into it.
"I read the script. I call him, 'Jon, you realize she sings, right?' And he goes, 'Uh huh.' I don't sing! He's like, 'Eh, don't worry,'" Yeoh explained. "Then, the next day, I get this video, and I look at it, and it's like, 'Hi, Michelle. I just have two people here who really want to talk to you and tell you why you should be here.' And it was Ariana and Cynthia."
Grande and Erivo, who play Glinda and Elphaba in the movie respectively, told Yeoh that it was "imperative" she come on board.
"Imperative was the royal word," Yeoh continued. "Cynthia and Ariana are like angels—when you walk on and you hear them sing, it's like you've gone to heaven."
Before Wicked comes out on Nov. 27, Yeoh is starring in Netflix series The Brothers Sun, whose first season was released on Jan. 4. She continues to do great things!
