Wicked actor recalls 'magical' time on set

Mr Lampra said performing in the two Wicked movies was 'magical'

An actor who appears in the latest Wicked movie has said it is "quite surreal" to see it in the cinema.

Demitri Lampra, from Tile Hill in Coventry, can been seen singing and dancing in both the first and second films, alongside Ariana Grande in Munchkin land.

He said she was a "wonderful soul, wonderful person" who went around the cast and said "thank you for making this dream come true for her".

Mr Lampra said he invited her back to Coventry for a glass of wine, but was yet to hear if she would take him up on the offer.

He said he heard the two Wicked movies would be made while auditioning for Disney's Snow White, in which he appears as a supporting artist.

Mr Lampra has seen the Wicked stage show nine times and told BBC CWR: "I said to my agent I'd really love to be seen for it."

After a successful audition he said he went to film his scenes in a potato field near Milton Keynes, with the filming for the first movie taking nine weeks and a further four for the second - Wicked for Good.

The opening number in the first movie, 'No-one Mourns the Wicked', was performed 25 times he said, with the cameras capturing "moments" from different takes.

The audio was also recorded live, so all the cast had to learn all the words and harmonies as miming on camera would look bad.

Mr Lampra said he had worked with some great people

It was during a break between performances that he said he got his chance to talk to Ariana Grande, who plays Glinda.

He said: "She was at the top on her little plinth and I don't drink alcohol, but I'm mumbling under my breath because my feet were killing me, I could really down a glass of wine.

"She must have heard and she said: 'I'm more of a red' and I said lets go to Coventry and we'll have a glass of wine."

Mr Lampra said the whole experience had been "magical" and he was very proud to represent his home city.

He said it was easy to quit in the acting business, but "if you just carry on pushing and pushing there will be a moment where it clicks into place for you".