Ariana DeBose is what
I call a quadruple
threat: she’s not only a
dancer, an actress, and
a singer, but also kind.
I first became aware of
her when I saw her as
the Bullet in Hamilton.
The role requires her to
move in slow motion—
and so creative was she!
It took such physical
strength. I leapt. I could
barely leave the the-
ater: I wanted to see her
slow-motion movement
again.
More recently, we
were both cast in the
TV show Schmigadoon!
I got to know the
woman: silly, funny, not
afraid of what anyone
thinks. No fear. She in-
spired me to be the best
I could be at my role.
As the first openly
queer woman of color
to win an Oscar for act-
ing, for West Side Story,
she’s a trailblazer. I
think she’ll one day win
an EGOT.
Ariana’s as authen-
tic as they come, and
whatever she does next,
I will be cheering from
fifth-row center. They’ll
have to throw me out
for screaming for her
and clapping so loud.
So go for it, baby girl!
Chenoweth is a Tony-
and Emmy Award–
winning actor
When I lured Amanda Seyfried into
Mank, Mank, her ability to be simultane-her ability to be simultane-
ously knowing and warm opened ously knowing and warm opened
that role to a (much) larger conver-that role to a (much) larger conver-
sation than the script might have sation than the script might have
otherwise intimated. People may otherwise intimated. People may
have thought of her as a rom-com-have thought of her as a rom-com-
edienne, but she’s got a lot more edienne, but she’s got a lot more
going on under the hood. Includ-going on under the hood. Includ-
ing the rare ability to make one ing the rare ability to make one
reassess one’s own imaginative reassess one’s own imaginative
shortcomings.shortcomings.
Watching her as Elizabeth Watching her as Elizabeth
Holmes in Holmes in The Dropout, The Dropout, one can-one can-
not help but realize: not only does not help but realize: not only does
this woman have an instrument, this woman have an instrument,
but she can play it. She chewed but she can play it. She chewed
her nail beds over choices for her nail beds over choices for
that role—and after witnessing that role—and after witnessing
the results, I thought: I love it the results, I thought: I love it
when people torment themselves when people torment themselves
to be great. to be great.
Acting is inherently silly, and Acting is inherently silly, and
she still has perspective on the she still has perspective on the
circus of highly trained profession-circus of highly trained profession-
als all waiting for somebody else als all waiting for somebody else
to repeat their text—in the right to repeat their text—in the right
order. Clad in a one-off lamé gown, order. Clad in a one-off lamé gown,
she would hoist its train about her she would hoist its train about her
waist, sling her shoes over her waist, sling her shoes over her
shoulder, and hike through ankle-shoulder, and hike through ankle-
deep mud to our next location—deep mud to our next location—
just ’cause it was faster than just ’cause it was faster than
waiting for a golf cart. That’s a rare waiting for a golf cart. That’s a rare
combo: the assiduous virtuoso. combo: the assiduous virtuoso.
It’s lovely to see her get these It’s lovely to see her get these
opportunities and watch her be opportunities and watch her be
recognized for how she (alone) recognized for how she (alone)
can take us places we just hadn’t can take us places we just hadn’t
allowed her to before.allowed her to before.Fincher is an Oscar-nominated Fincher is an Oscar-nominated
directordirectorAriana
DeBose
Trailblazing talent
BY KRISTIN CHENOWETH
AmAmanda Seyfriedanda Seyfried
A true virtuosoA true virtuoso
B Y D AV I D F I N C H E RB Y D AV I D F I N C H E R3333