Marissa Bode from Wicked is discovering the magic within herself.

      Marissa Bode recognizes that her role as Nessarose in Wicked: For Good isn't exactly one of the most adored. She's aware of the memes, the tweets, and the ongoing discussions surrounding this character. Nessarose—the tightly wound, morally ambiguous younger sister of Elphaba Thropp (portrayed by Cynthia Erivo)—has often been categorized alongside the internet's favorite low-stakes villains, like Nate from The Devil Wears Prada. However, Bode does not shy away from this perception. In fact, the 25-year-old actress finds a reflection of herself in Nessarose. "I have a tremendous amount of empathy for her," Bode expresses. This sentiment has been deeply felt since she first entered the world of Oz during filming which began in 2022. Bode is notably the first wheelchair-using actor in the musical's history to take on the role of Nessarose, marking an important milestone resonating within disability advocacy. While opinions about Nessarose's decisions may differ on the internet, Bode personally connects with the emotional depth of the character. "I know she's not everyone's favorite, but I completely understand her, especially from a disabled person's viewpoint," she says. "I wish audiences would embrace more nuanced disabled characters because too often, we're portrayed as childlike or victims on screen. Nessarose is multi-faceted; sure, she leans toward the villainous side, but she is more than just that. Ultimately, she seeks love and, more importantly, wants to be recognized as a human being with autonomy. I see her humanity in that."

      Bode's clarity about herself, amidst the glitz of Hollywood, is one of the traits that makes her so approachable. When she logs into Zoom a few weeks before Wicked: For Good premieres, she exudes a refreshing sincerity that is uncommon among young performers. The era of scripted media training has faded, replaced by a genuine authenticity permeating every moment of our conversation. At the start of our call, Bode enters the meeting with a bright smile. It happens to be the day after Election Day, which saw significant victories for progressive candidates and causes across the nation. "I feel a small sliver of hope," she comments, referencing the previous day's events. Bode, who identifies as Black, queer, and disabled, is keenly aware of her position in society and the new platform she possesses to challenge constricting standards.

      This awareness has not arisen in a vacuum. Bode first experienced Wicked live at age 11. Although the production was a bittersweet moment—for while Nessarose's character was one of the first representations of disability she had seen in theater, the actress portraying her was not disabled—it sparked Bode's interest in her local community theater in Wisconsin, ultimately leading to her commitment to a career in the arts. After graduating from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, Bode relocated to Los Angeles in search of any job that could cover her expenses. "Finding a survival job took me quite a while, especially as a disabled individual," she recalls. After a year of working part-time as an after-school art instructor, she submitted an audition tape for Wicked.

      "The audition process was incredibly daunting," Bode admits. Throughout a series of Zoom workshops with casting directors, she deeply explored Nessarose—examining her desires, motivations, and how her narrative could develop over two films in a way that resonated with Bode's own experiences as a disabled woman. "During the final callback, I was so nervous—truly anxious—and I thought I had messed up completely," Bode remembers years later. The prolonged silence from producers in the weeks that followed seemed to confirm Bode's fears that she hadn’t gotten the role. Rather than dwell on it, she created a playful short film about witchcraft set to "Witches" by Alice Phoebe Lou, almost instinctively. Perhaps it was a premonition, or perhaps a quiet part of her mind already sensed what was about to unfold.

      In the short film's final shot, a wash of green light casts over her face—a subconscious homage to her on-screen older sister, Elphaba—as if summoning her. When Jon M. Chu, the director of Wicked, informed her that she had landed the role, he playfully reenacted the ending of her short film: an off-screen knock, presumably from a witch there to take her away.

      Chu, who has made waves with his offer videos to both Erivo and Ariana Grande, humorously warned Bode about how her short film might be perceived, as secrecy regarding the casting was vital. "I was internally panicking when he said, 'Actually, someone is at the door. I have to go get this,'" Bode recalls. "He then turned the camera around to reveal Ariana and Cynthia holding a sign that read, 'Welcome to Oz. Will you be our Nessarose?