Ethan Slater thinks Ariana Grande is wickedly hilarious. Indeed, the SpongeBob SquarePants stage actor—who began dating the “One Last Time” singer after meeting on the set of Wicked —said that her humor is part of the magic she brought to their upcoming movie. “She’s so funny,” Ethan said on the Nov.
4 episode of The Jennifer Hudson Show . “She’s a comedy genius. I mean, she’s amazing in this film.
” But Ariana—who stars in the musical adaptation alongside Cynthia Erivo , Jonathan Bailey , Jeff Goldblum , Michelle Yeoh and more—isn’t the only popular member of the cast. “Everyone’s amazing in this film,” Ethan continued. “Cynthia and Ari bring depth to these roles.
The women who have played these roles on stage are incredible. But when you’re doing a film, you’re so close.” And Ethan explained to Jennifer Hudson —who won an Oscar in 2007 for Dreamgirls , another stage-to-screen adaptation—the beauty of watching Ariana and Cynthia bring the Broadway show to the big screen.
“You know, the difference between when you’re doing a role onstage and on film and you’ve just got to think those thoughts,” he shared. “They were so beautiful and nuanced and unbelievable.” “And Ari’s hilarious,” he added.
“I can’t wait for people to see the takes that didn’t make it in.” Although Ethan—who shares a 2-year-old son with ex-wife Lilly Jay —has kept mostly under the radar since his relationship with Ariana was made publ.