Ariana Grande and Elizabeth Gillies: How Their Bond Has Stayed Strong Over the Years

Ariana Grande and Elizabeth “Liz” Gillies have maintained a strong friendship for over a decade, and their bond shows no signs of fading. Despite their Nickelodeon show Victorious wrapping up in 2013, the duo, who first met in 2008 while starring in 13 on Broadway, have continued to nurture their close relationship.

As Liz shared in a recent interview with People on November 6, their secret to staying connected is simple: “We make a real effort to see each other. We laugh, we reminisce, and we make new memories.” These memories have included fun moments like co-starring in Ariana’s 2018 “Thank U, Next” music video and attending theater events, such as when they watched Ariana’s boyfriend Ethan Slater perform in Spamalot in 2023.

“We’re constantly doing things, having new experiences, and adding chapters to our book,” Liz, 31, explained, underscoring the closeness that has continued over the years. Liz is especially proud of Ariana’s latest achievement: landing her dream role as Glinda the Good Witch in the Wicked film adaptation, set to release on November 22. Liz reminisced about their early days together, saying, “When I met her at 13 or 14 years old, Wicked was her show, and Glinda was her girl. We would sing the songs together, and she would tell me about her dream of playing this role. I know how hard she worked for it. It is so incredibly well-earned.”

The Dynasty actress is thrilled to see her friend realize such a significant career milestone. Wicked, which stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, marks a pivotal moment in Ariana’s career.

But Ariana and Liz aren’t the only Victorious alumni who have kept in touch. Ariana also revealed in the interview that many of the cast members are still active in a group chat, although she kept the identities of the participants under wraps.

Reflecting on the special bond they share, Ariana said, “The love is still there, and I hope we get to do something soon together because we have so much fun. That was such a special time. I mean, no one could really understand that time. We’re bonded for life over it. It was really special.