Wicked's Marissa Bode Is Discovering the Magic Within Herself

      Marissa Bode is aware that her character, Nessarose, in Wicked: For Good isn't universally adored. She has noticed the memes, tweets, and discussions surrounding her role. Nessarose—the tense and morally ambiguous younger sister of Elphaba Thropp (played by Cynthia Erivo)—has often occupied a space alongside the internet's favorite minor villains, like Nate from The Devil Wears Prada. However, Bode doesn't shy away from this perception; instead, the 25-year-old actress finds a part of herself reflected in it. "I have a lot of empathy for her," Bode expresses. This deep understanding has been with her since she first entered the world of Oz when filming commenced in 2022. Bode is the first actor who uses a wheelchair to play Nessarose in the musical’s history, marking an important milestone recognized across disability advocacy communities. While the online crowd may criticize Nessarose's decisions, Bode has an intimate comprehension of her emotional complexities. "I know she’s not everyone’s favorite character, but I connect with her so fully, especially from the viewpoint of someone with a disability," she explains. "I wish audiences would allow for more nuanced disabled characters because we are often portrayed as infantilized or victimized. Nessarose is intricate, and though she leans into a villainous role, I believe she embodies more than that. Ultimately, she yearns to be loved and, more importantly, to be recognized as a human being with autonomy. I perceive her humanity in that aspect."

      Bode’s clarity about herself, amidst the complexities of Hollywood, is part of what makes her refreshing. Just weeks before Wicked: For Good is set to premiere, she beams with unfiltered honesty during our Zoom call, which is a rare trait among young actors. The era of overly polished, media-trained responses has faded, replaced by an authentic connection in our interaction. At the start of our conversation, she brightens the meeting, sharing her optimism following Election Day, which saw progressive candidates and initiatives gaining significant traction. "I feel a little sliver of hope," she says, referencing the recent events. Bode, who identifies as Black, queer, and disabled, is acutely aware of her identity and the platform she holds to challenge any limitations imposed upon her.

      This awareness didn't arise spontaneously. Bode first experienced Wicked on stage when she was just 11 years old. The experience was a mix of emotions; while Nessarose’s character marked one of the first representations of disability she had witnessed in theater, the actress playing her wasn’t disabled. Nonetheless, it established a pivotal connection that ignited Bode’s interest in local community theater in Wisconsin, eventually leading her to pursue a career in the arts. After completing her studies at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, Bode moved to Los Angeles in search of any job that might help her make ends meet. "Finding a survival job took me a long time, particularly as a disabled individual," she notes. After a year working part-time as an after-school art instructor, she submitted an audition tape for Wicked.

      "The auditioning process was quite intimidating," Bode confesses. Through a series of Zoom workshops with casting directors, she delved deeply into Nessarose’s character—exploring her desires and how her story could resonate across two films, aligning with Bode’s lived experiences as a disabled woman. "During the final callback, I was incredibly nervous—beyond measure—and genuinely thought I had messed it up," Bode recalls years later. The silence from producers following the audition led her to believe she didn’t secure the role. Rather than moping around, she created a playful short film about witchcraft set to "Witches" by Alice Phoebe Lou. Perhaps she had an inkling of what was on the horizon.

      In the short film, the last scene features a green light flooding her face—a subtle homage to her on-screen sister, Elphaba—almost as if inviting her forward. Jon M. Chu, the director of Wicked, humorously reenacted the short's final scene when he informed her that she got the role: an off-screen knock, representing a witch arriving to collect Bode.

      Chu, famous for his playful offer videos to both Erivo and Ariana Grande, gently reminded Bode to be cautious about how her short film might be viewed. After all, no one knew she was in the running for the role of Nessarose, and keeping secrets was crucial. "I was internally panicking, and then he said, 'Someone’s at the door; I need to answer it,'" Bode remembers. "Then he turned the camera around to reveal Ariana and Cynthia holding a sign that read, ‘Welcome to Oz. Will you be our Nessarose?’" Cue the tears.

      Bode emphasizes the supportive community fostered within the Wicked universe, both on-screen and off. (Rest