Marissa Bode Shares Her Journey in ‘Wicked: For Good’ and Her Favorite Cruelty-Free Beauty Tips
Marissa Bode Shines in Feature Film Debut as Nessarose in Wicked: For Good
Marissa Bode is stepping into the spotlight, making her feature film debut as Nessarose in Wicked: For Good. This highly anticipated release features a stellar cast, including Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Bowen Yang, Jeff Goldblum, and Michelle Yeoh. Bode’s role is particularly historic, as she is the first wheelchair user to portray the character, a fact she embraces with deep pride and purpose.
As the premiere approaches, Bode reflects on the whirlwind of events leading to this moment. “It’s the fast approaching-ness of it all,” she admits. “I cannot believe how soon it’s going to be. It really snuck up on me a little bit.” Her enthusiasm is evident as she looks forward to sharing the film with audiences, sharing, “I’m going to be seeing it with my friends. One of my friends actually rented out a theater! So, yes, I am really excited.”
Amid a busy schedule filled with press events and premieres, Bode strives for balance and tranquility. “I do my best to relax in between everything and take whatever breaths I need,” she explains. A surprisingly delightful hobby helps her unwind: “I love to scrapbook. That’s been my hobby of the year. I was just on the plane coming back from London and finishing out the last few pages of my scrapbook.” She laughs about the peculiar looks she received from flight attendants while crafting during the flight, underscoring how scrapbooking helps her remain grounded during this hectic time.
Bode’s beauty regimen, built around vegan and cruelty-free products, provides an additional source of comfort. “I really, really love ILIA Beauty,” she states, highlighting the tinted sunscreen and blush as essentials. After a challenging summer affecting her skin, she discovered Krave Beauty’s Great Barrier Relief, which she describes as a savior for her skin: “It helped a lot. It gives me that extra glow. I really love it.”
Filming Wicked presented its own set of challenges, including a hair product that led to unexpected skin issues. Bode recalls, “I won’t say the product, but it made my curls look so good. Unfortunately, it gave me the worst breakouts of my entire life.” With help from a dermatologist, she quickly resolved the situation and humorously notes her struggle to remember the name of the product.
Beyond the personal milestones of her career, Bode deeply values the significance of representation in the industry. “That means the most to me,” she emphasizes, striving to advocate for visibility and inclusion for disabled individuals in film and television.
This role not only serves as a personal achievement for Bode but also as an opportunity to champion a broader message regarding disability rights. “It means a lot to me in terms of helping me build space and create a platform for myself to speak on disability rights issues, as well as other things,” she explains. She underscores the importance of addressing intersectional issues in the pursuit of progress.
The reactions from young fans resonate with her the most, particularly those who see reflections of themselves in her performance. “It has been really cool to see the younger generation of disabled kids’ reaction, as well as non-disabled kids’ reaction, to the film and to my character,” she shares. “For a lot of kids, this could be their first time seeing a disabled character on screen or a disabled person, period. It’s been really great.”
