Wicked's Marissa Bode Is Discovering Magic Within Herself

      Marissa Bode is aware that her character, Nessarose, in Wicked: For Good isn’t the most well-liked. She has seen the memes, tweets, and discussions surrounding the character. Nessarose—the tightly wound, morally complex younger sister of Elphaba Thropp (played by Cynthia Erivo)—has consistently occupied a similar cultural space as other low-stakes villains favored by the internet, like Nate from The Devil Wears Prada. However, Bode does not shy away from this reputation. In fact, the 25-year-old actress feels a connection to it. "I have a tremendous amount of empathy for her," Bode expresses, a feeling she has held since she began working on the project in 2022. Bode is the first wheelchair-using actor to take on the role of Nessarose in the musical’s history, marking an important milestone that resonates within disability advocacy communities. While opinions about Nessarose's decisions may vary online, Bode deeply understands her character's emotional journey. "I know she's not everyone’s favorite, but I relate to her so completely, especially from a disabled person’s perspective," she remarks. "I wish audiences would embrace more complex disabled characters because too often, we’re portrayed as infantilized or victimized on-screen. Nessarose is intricate; while she does embody a villainous role to some extent, she is more than that. Ultimately, she seeks love and desires to be recognized as a person with autonomy. I see her humanity in that."

      Bode’s self-awareness, despite the Hollywood backdrop, is part of what makes her so engaging. When she joins a Zoom call just weeks before Wicked: For Good premieres, she exudes a rare authenticity among young actors. The days of overly rehearsed media training are behind her, replaced by genuine openness that flows throughout our discussion. At the start of our call, Bode enters with a bright smile, feeling a "little sliver of hope" following a significant progressive victory in the recent elections. As a Black, queer, and disabled person, Bode is acutely aware of her role in the world and her platform to challenge any limitations that may attempt to box her in.

      Bode's awareness didn't develop in a vacuum. She first experienced Wicked on stage at age 11. That production was bittersweet; although Nessarose was one of the first representations of disability she had encountered in theater, the actor playing Nessarose was not disabled. Still, that experience sparked Bode's interest in her local community theater in Wisconsin, eventually leading her to fully commit to a career in the arts. After completing her studies at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, she moved to Los Angeles seeking any form of income. "It took me quite a while to find any survival job, particularly as a disabled individual," she recalls. After a year working part-time as an after-school art teacher, she auditioned for Wicked.

      "The audition process was quite daunting," Bode admits. Through a series of Zoom workshops with casting directors, she delved into Nessarose’s character—exploring her desires and how her journey might evolve across two films, reflecting Bode's own experiences as a disabled woman. "During the final callback, I felt extremely anxious—so nervous that I genuinely believed I had messed it up," Bode recounts. The prolonged silence from producers in the following weeks led her to believe she hadn't secured the role. Rather than dwelling on it, she created a playful short film about witchcraft set to "Witches" by Alice Phoebe Lou. Perhaps her intuition hinted at what was to come.

      The short film concludes with a green light illuminating her face—an unconscious homage to her on-screen sister, Elphaba—as if urging her forward. Jon M. Chu, the director of Wicked, playfully reenacted the short's conclusion when he notified Bode that she got the role, punctuating the moment with an off-screen knock, implying a witch was arriving to take her.

      Chu, known for viral offer videos to both Erivo and Ariana Grande, playfully warned Bode about how her short film could be interpreted since no one knew she was auditioning for Nessarose. "I was internally panicking when he said, 'Actually, someone is at the door. I need to get this.'" Bode remembers. To her surprise, when he turned the camera, it revealed Ariana and Cynthia holding a sign saying, "Welcome to Oz. Will you be our Nessarose?" Cue the tears.

      Bode points out that the supportive atmosphere created within the Wicked universe—both on and off the screen—was crucial. (No, the cast hasn't been through a traumatic experience that causes them to cry constantly; they genuinely enjoy each other's company.) This camaraderie was essential as Bode transitioned into a new, faster-paced life. One moment she was leading after-school art classes as Ms.