Amanda Seyfried is among the rare caliber of actors who hardly have to audition these days, but she tried out six times for the role of Glinda in Wicked.

The Mamma Mia! actress recently appeared on the In the Envelope podcast to discuss her acting journey and process, including her fondness for movie musicals. She said that she rarely auditions these days, but her last few were for Les Misérables and Wicked.

It’s no secret that Seyfried wanted to play the Good Witch in the film adaptation of Wicked. She has been open about her desire to play the role for years, but she told In the Envelope exactly how hard she worked for it.

“I auditioned, like, six times for Wicked because, you know, that had to be really just right and I loved it,” Seyfried said. “I was busy. I barely had time to do it, but I made it work. I worked my ass off for years and years and years on that music. I’m just competitive with myself in a really healthy way.” 

The part ultimately went to Ariana Grande, but Seyfried has no regrets. She has been candid about feeling dissatisfied with her performance as Cosette in Le Mis, and the audition process for Wicked allowed her to see that she has grown as a singer.

As for the future, Seyfried hopes to flex those musical muscles once again. Perhaps in a third installment of Mamma Mia!?

Listen to the whole interview with Amanda Seyfried below.