Lily Field, a professional dancer who has appeared in a number of films, initially auditioned for a role as a body double for Ariana Grande in the new Wicked movie
Essex mum Lily Field, who landed a role in the star-studded new Wicked film, has spilled the beans on what it was like to work on the set of the Hollywood hit.
The professional dancer from Southend initially auditioned to be Ariana Grande’s double for the Wizard of Oz-inspired musical’s big screen adaptation. She also threw her hat in the ring for the part of Dorothy but ended up showcasing her moves in the massive dance number for “One Short Day”.
Ms Field gushed about the elaborate film set she shared with celebs like Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, and Peter Dinklage. Not only did she get to perform alongside a former pupil from Southend’s WD Studios – where she honed her own skills and still teaches – but she’s also keen to motivate aspiring dancers with her experiences.
Despite this being her most significant film project yet, Ms Field revealed she’s no stranger to the silver screen, having appeared in movies in Germany as well. Recounting her journey, she said: “I got a call to come in and be Ariana’s dance double,” adding, “I learned all the choreography and then was told I wasn’t needed.”
She continued, “Then they called me to be Dorothy, but that didn’t work out either. So then they got me in as a dancer in the Emerald City.” Reflecting on the experience, she enthused, “It’s the biggest film I’ve ever done and I was dancing alongside all of the stars of the film.”
On working with the A-list cast, she remarked, “They were all really nice and really cool.” Ms Field was left in awe by the meticulous attention to detail on the set of a recent film, where she noted that even the magazines in a hair salon scene were filled with complete articles. “The set was ridiculous – it was like it was real,” she said.
“The Munchkin Village was huge… We were in golf buggies to go around.” She marvelled at the realism of the Emerald City, saying, “The Emerald City was like a real city and the detail was so crazy.” She added, “All of the magazines in the film had real articles in them and everything.”
Ms Field, accustomed to the ever-changing nature of choreography in films, expressed no complaints about adapting, stating, “In films, the choreography is always chopping and changing – but it’s what I do.” However, she did express one regret: not taking personal photos with the stars, despite 31 year old Grande snapping selfies with her. Her talents didn’t go unnoticed, as after filming last summer in Ivinghoe, Bucks., she received an offer to be Grande’s dance double for a Swarovski ad campaign. “After the film I got a call to be a dance double for Ariana Grande in the Swarovski campaign. It’s in Times Square and Piccadilly Circus.”
Having attended the film’s red carpet premiere in London’s Leicester Square and watched it again with her sister, Ms Field is eager to share her experiences with her students, hoping to motivate them towards achieving their own high-profile successes. “I went to the screening a couple of weeks ago in Leicester Square and went again with my sister the other day,” she recounted.
“It was amazing. It was cool to be in a cinema with all of the dancers. We were all going, ‘There’s you! There’s you! ‘. It was an amazing atmosphere. I always tell my students they can do anything. One of my past students was in the film with me, so that was a really nice moment. I started at the school I teach at: it doesn’t matter how small the town you come from is, if you push you can do it.”
