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Boy recalls Wicked 'big moment' with Ariana Grande

Alex PopeBedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire
News imageContributed Tyne, wearing a Munchkin costume, looking at the camera. He has short dark hair, has a hat on his back, a yellow shirt, tie round his neck, and brown jacket. A rail is to his left. Contributed
Tyne during his costume-fitting for the Wicked movies

A child actor said Ariana Grande called him the "cutest thing" she had ever seen as he performed alongside her during the filming of Wicked: For Good.

Tyne, 14, from Bedford, impressed producers so much as a Munchkin in the original Wicked film that his part was expanded for the sequel.

"We had to form a line for her to walk past, where I picked up the last yellow brick and passed it to her to place it down; that's my big moment," he said.

His success proved you needed to "show up, go for it, and you can't just be like the others", he added.

News imageUniversal Studios Ariana Grande, dressed as Glinda the witch, with her arms, outstretched in Wicked. She is wearing a pink and blue dress, with long blonde hair, and actors all around her, dressed as Muchkin's. She is holding a wand in one hand. Universal Studios
The Wicked movies starring Ariana Grande were filmed in Elstree, Hertfordshire and Ivinghoe, Buckinghamshire

Tyne explained how he first worked on the Munchkin set "in a massive field" and had to "be happy and cheerful" when they found out the wicked witch of the west was dead.

In Wicked: For Good, he got to stand next to Grande, who played Glinda.

He said the star told him: "Oh my God, you're the cutest thing I've ever seen."

His mother Carrie-Anne said he was first hired as a support extra for two weeks' work, which then became four weeks.

News imageUniversal Studios Ariana Grande as Glinda and and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba on the Wicked set. Ariana is wearing a big dress that is pink and blue, holding a wand, there is a poster in the middle of them, then Cynthia to the right, holding a broom, wearing a black hat and a coat, with a long train and a black dress. There are wooden houses behind them. Universal Studios
Wicked is the prequel to The Wizard of Oz and stars Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba

One day during filming, she went to collect her son from the set and was told by the team that he had impressed them so much, they wanted him to feature more.

She added: "They said he did an amazing job. I'm extremely proud of him."

Both films were made at the same time but released a year apart.

Tyne has already appeared in a number of films, including Disney's Pinocchio, filmed at nearby Cardington, Bedford, Snow White and A Quiet Place Part II.

News imageContributed Tyne, outside, by a building, with buses and trees near him. He has on a lanyard, a black T-shirt, black gilet and black trousers. He is smiling and has his hands in his pockets. He has short dark hair. Contributed
Tyne worked on the Wicked set in Ivinghoe, Buckinghamshire

Tyne had always wanted to train in performing arts and make it his career.

"I want to dance, I want to do something in London, I want to do musical theatre and then films," he continued.

"I hope I'll then be spotted in theatre and get known.

"Being in Wicked has taught me you need to show up, you need to go for it, and you can't just be like the others, you need to be yourself, and proud of it, and excel.

"It made me get noticed and have hope for the future, that having such a small role can lead to something bigger."

He said he had been offered other opportunities but wanted to focus on his GCSEs, which included dance and drama.

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