Liz Gillies Explains How She and BFF Ariana Grande Remain So Close: 'We Make a Real Effort' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Ariana Grande and Elizabeth “Liz” Gillies.Photo:arianagrande/Instagram

arianagrande/Instagram

Friendship is synonymous withElizabeth “Liz” GilliesandAriana Grande.

The talented pair met as young teenagers, made their Broadway debuts alongside one another in13: The Musicaland costarred on Nickelodeon’sVictorious. They’ve remained best friends ever since and continuously supported each other’s projects, so it should come as no surprise Gillies “couldn’t be prouder” of Grande’s starring role as Galinda/Glinda in the upcomingWickedfilm.

“I know how much this project means to her. When I met her at 13 or 14 years old,Wickedwas her show, and Glinda was her girl,” the 31-year-old actress and singer tells PEOPLE. “We would sing the songs together, and she would tell me about her dream of playing this role. I know, throughout the audition process, how hard she worked and how much she wanted it. It is so incredibly well-earned.”

Liz Gillies and Ariana Grande in December 2011.Angela Weiss/Getty Images

Over the past decade-plus sinceVictoriousended in 2013, the two stars have maintained an incredibly tight-knit bond, displayed in part through their annual Halloween costume recreations of characters from films likeShowgirlsandBest in Show.

Gillies also appeared in Grande’s 2018"Thank U, Next"music video, popped up at one of her Sweetener Tour shows the following year for a nostalgic rendition of the duet “Give It Up” from their Nickelodeon sitcom and recently supported the Grammy winner as she hostedSaturday Night Live.

Elizabeth “Liz” Gillies.Courtesy of Elizabeth “Liz” Gillies

Courtesy of Elizabeth “Liz” Gillies

The secret to their lasting friendship? “We make a real effort to see each other,” explains Gillies. “We laugh, we reminisce and we make new memories. I think a lot of the time when you have friends from childhood, you need to make new memories to keep a friendship going. Otherwise, you’re just reminiscing about the past and getting together once a year.”

“I see Ariana all the time, and we’re constantly doing things, having new experiences and adding chapters to our book,” she continues. “I’m so grateful that we’ve been able to share in this wild ride together, and I can’t wait to see what’s next. This is a very exciting chapter for her, and I feel very blessed to get to watch it so closely with her.”

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‘Victorious’ stars Ariana Grande, Daniella Monet, Avan Jogia, Victoria Justice, Elizabeth Gillies and Matt Bennett in February 2012.

Grande isn’t the onlyVictoriousalum Gillies remains close with today. In fact, she says some of the main cast members still have an active group chat — mainly for memes or trying to make plans, which is “harder” these days than when most of them spent the bulk of their time in Los Angeles.

“The love is still there, and I hope we get to do something soon together because we have so much fun, and that was such a special time,” she says of the series, which costarredVictoria Justice, Matt Bennett, Leon Thomas III andDaniella Monet. “I mean, no one could really understand that time. We’re bonded for life over it. It was really special.”

One topic of discussion for the nextVictorioushangout is Gillies' former onscreen boyfriendAvan Jogia’s engagement to pop starHalsey. “I think they might be the hottest couple to ever exist,” declares Gillies, who played Jade West on the show opposite Jogia as Beck Oliver.

Elizabeth “Liz” Gillies in September 2024; Avan Jogia and Halsey in May 2024.Getty(2)

Getty(2)

While theDynastystar hasn’t met Halsey in person yet, she says, “I’m sure she’s absolutely wonderful because he’s just such an incredible guy. He really only surrounds himself with good, good people, and he seems so happy.”

“I mean, if it couldn’t be Beck and Jade, this might even be better,” she adds. “They are awesome together.”

Gillies is set to perform alimited run of shows at Café Carlylein New York City from Nov. 6 to Nov. 9, and she recently released a new single,“What You’ve Done,” with Ferry Townes.

source: people.com