OBSESSED! Willemijn Verkaik Takes "Defying Gravity" on a World Tour

www.playbill.co... As she prepared to wrap up her run in "Wicked," Willemijn Verkaik met up with Seth to chat about her background - she is from the Netherlands and has performed the role of Elphaba in three different countries and in three different languages. Seizing the opportunity to create havoc (as per usual), Seth asked her to sing "Defying Gravity." The catch? She'd be required to switch amongst the three languages (and permutations thereof!) according to the cue cards doled out by his assistant.

[@noahc98]

Seth: "I'm not German, dear. You have to tell me what that sounds like." Willemijn: (*internally*) I'M NOT F'ING GERMAN EITHER

[@DanielledeVreede]

My thoughts exactly

[@SlowxParentsCrossing]

I love how when Will pauses, Seth is like "It's an 'F'". She's been doing this for forever I'm pretty sure she knows what the note is lmao.

[@lpalacioschairez]

+SlowxParentsxCrossing her "yes, I know" is everything haha

[@katjakeet7232]

"Is ever gonna bring me.... NEER!!" That is the funniest transition from English to Dutch I have ever heard!

[@Jamezzzuh]

"Language of the riff!!!" My ears have never been more satisfied.

[@swiftypride123]

Seth: It's an F... Willemijn: Yes, I know... Haha, she's probably thinking "I literally have sung this song over 1000 times, you really don't think I know it's an F???" ;) But this is seriously one of the best videos on KZbin. :D

[@luciahuang4231]

Lol

[@Marie-ov6dn]

her face though when she says it XD

[@luciahuang4231]

haha

[@RaelEmpire316]

I love willy

[@luciahuang4231]

Who doesn't?

[@IamEmkins]

Willemijn is the Queen of Elphaba. How many Broadway actresses can nail it in three languages? She's beautiful in person too.

[@katherinehenig1702]

when not green she is Pretty!!

[@Skatjekim]

Katherine Henig In green she's pretty aswel

[@rileysummers484]

@@Skatjekim I think she had one of the best green makeup looks for Lll the Elphabas.

[@ladybundlebrent3562]

None. None would nail it in three languages. Saw her perform it live ten times. She's amazing

[@ValkyrieDaisy95]

That.. Riff..was..majestic.

[@youtubepasserby8339]

It was kinda meh, lol

[@ValkyrieDaisy95]

Not to my ears it wasn't. It was absolutely amazing!

[@michaels8701]

I do realize that the riff here is exaggerated, but especially the first bit is quite similar to the one from her final performance in London this July

[@jennifleur912]

3:26

[@SMAnthonyW]

"is ever gonna bring, meeeee ..........NEEEEEEEEHHHHHH!" LOL that was so cute

[@2theleft2theleft]

SMAnthonyW She Said "NEER" it means down in Dutch 😁

[@maren3243]

@@2theleft2theleft It’s ”ner” in Swedish, Dutch is actually pretty easy to understand when you are Swedish and also know some German ;)

[@EmviloriamE]

Oh, hi fellow Reveluv!

[@jordanlavvy]

she takes the shortest breath... for the LONGEST riff. i can't.

[@lekoman]

I want her to do the whole song in the Language of Riff. Make it 15 minutes long. Saaaaaang!

[@Skatjekim]

'Well, I'm not German dear, You'll have to tell me what that sounds like." Well, she's not German either, duh! Whahaha, love this vid! Amazing! Geweldig!

[@DesrireToRelease]

Lmao I died at her English with a German accent!

[@Unbreakable86_]

Yeah, me too. But it was close to perfect. :D

[@RaelEmpire316]

She's Dutch

[@Jamezzzuh]

Rosanne Van Kooten He's talking about the part in the song where she is told to sing in English but with a German accent.

[@MeAVE243]

I figured it was hard because, as her German co-star Lucy said, she speaks German better than some Germans. So they had no reason to switch to English with her...she likely didn't hear their German accent in English that often.

[@charlotteeames3342]

I loved the way that when Willemijn was in the West End and performed live, she spoke to the audiences with a British accent. Not many international performers would have done that in the UK! :) Such a talented and amazing woman!

[@Valeriamtzp]

I believe that's what they're supposed to do, Cuz a Mexican actor was Simba on the Lion King in Spain and he talked spanish with an European accent (very different from the latin America Spanish)

[@AstriDBZ]

​@@ValeriamtzpTe refieres a Carlos Rivera, ¿verdad? 😊

[@Valeriamtzp]

@@AstriDBZ Exactamente!!! Cuando fui a ver el musical a la ciudad de México el justo acababa de salir 🥲🥲

[@MissLvG94]

Her name is spelled wrong in the beginning! And English with the German accent I fell of my chair it was so funny. She actually got the right notes even though she didn't know how to sing the words. Talented definitely! Proud to be Dutch when I see Dutch people doing these things all over the world. I love her!

[@MissGlassButterfly]

He‘s annoying it’s sad how ignorant he is and he plays it as funny but it’s rude

[@gordijntje]

@Chase Babin: She's saying "Keine Ahnung" which means: "I have no idea / don't know / got no clue" in German.

[@brennens8849]

Thomas Butler 3:05

[@orchishmamukherjee5250]

Yeah!!!👍👍

[@Ikwileennieuwenaam_]

xD i would have laughed so hard if they put just for fun spanish in there she would be like WTF WHY

[@luciahuang4231]

Or any other language!

[@jessicahoard2050]

Levi Right what if they put in French she would be like wth

[@orchishmamukherjee5250]

Pip's & Co well she did sing in French once...

[@alexisericson241]

There isn't even an official French translation of Defying Gravity to sing

[@liveliferight]

"Keine Ahnung!" :D Oh my GOSH, I miss her sooo much here in Germany.. But well, I am also sososo proud of her. My Wicked obsession started with her performance since she was my first Elphie.. Great woman ♥

[@astrowiz3544]

Whoah, I have mad respect for this woman. Elphaba is a difficult part to sing as it is but 3 languages?? Dang dang diggity dang a dang..

[@astronet100]

I couldn't stop grinning throughout ALL the video, she's just so talented, but also so "dorky". Plus, that riff at the end was just mind blowing.

[@sophiek.8837]

Dieses "Keine Ahnung!" klingt so süß irgendwie xD

[@amy0705]

Sophie K. Yes!

[@geniakaireit3329]

Sie ist einfach süß 😂🙌🏼

[@mattcookie]

brb stealing her voice box

[@jessicahoard2050]

Matt Cooke right

[@Arlecture]

I loved her reaction to "English with a German accent"

[@AngelofMusicization]

2:48 seth your vocal coach is showing

[@Aarondefyinggravity]

Seth "it's an F" ... Seth love Willemijn knows .. Lmao

[@ciaransammon]

He’s incredibly exhausting. Her talent is of another world. Just breathtaking.

[@Richarmed]

The moment where she knows how to do the German accent but sorta feels it's inappropriate..lol Genius, love that woman

[@aliciabanister7105]

That riff is my life goal

[@Ashluv085]

If I was that girl sitting in that chair when she did that riff at the end I probably would have fell out and died. gosh just pure amazingness

[@462-x5n]

She is absolutely amazing. Best Elphaba ever. Can't believe she's not more famous here.

[@Marie-ov6dn]

+Turd Ferguson ^^^same. As a broke American I wish she'd come over here more often XD

[@maymeteorite]

Marie Brittain God I feel your pain

[@szv202]

I'm very upset that I was trying to find this video, and searching "Winnie Smith Defying Gravity" *didn't* bring me to this video...

[@whatdoyousuppose]

it’s been 7 years and I’m still very obsessed with this performance by Willemijn 💚💚💚💚💚

[@000euMJ]

Same. 8 years...

[@guilhermedantas3200]

It said it's an F to her? What a hell, she sang this a million times, how ridiculous

[@clairetm63]

Seth talks way too much. Willemijn is lovely and amazing though.

[@violacrb]

He comes across as foolish in this. It is all in fun, but he plays up the 'ignorant American' too much.

[@tillymint4739]

every other day I come back to this video, just because the language of the riff is too great and the "it's an F" moment is too hilarious... this gives me life!

[@katherinemay4209]

Willemijn is literally PERFECT !!!! 3 3 not just as Elphaba, but also as a human being OMG that riff melted me :O 3

[@sakesselring]

That riff.... I've fallen and I can't get up.

[@brennens8849]

i love the frustrated 'yes i KNOW' after seth says 'it's an f'

[@derogatony]

Beautiful, talented, humble--this is how actors should behave.

[@lmbergamini]

she's just dutch, actually. ahahah

[@lilyevans2442]

Willemijn : sings first note Also Willemijn : Blew all famous singers away 😂 Me: Watches this video over 3000 times because i couldn't believe she's so good and singing this RANDOM WTF HOW Also me: tries to sing this like Willemijn My Family : STOP IMITATING THE DOG

[@landry2611]

She nailed Wicked in every language, and I know she did the Frozen soundtrack in German and Dutch

[@callofhuggsh2]

Must be weird singing this song not 10m off the ground.

[@GabrielRaskind]

My favorite part of this whole video is “that’s called talent” 😂

[@maymeteorite]

Seth: We will see if you're gonna crash and burn or not. Willemijn: I probably will Willemijn: *proceeds to fucking slay* "I probably will" oKAY WILLEMIJN SURE

[@Bubbl3ums]

this was looked so dificicult!! Mad respect

[@DragonPrincessAoife]

THAT RIFF!!!!! KILLED! HOLY CRAP!

[@singerdreamer0991]

Seriously! This woman is the definition of a BEAST!!!

[@Marie-ov6dn]

Uhhh... Seth... You spelled her name wrong XD it's WillemIJn XD

[@noak5895]

I’ve seen this 50 times and only now do I notice that when they show het name it says willemjin instead of willemijn

[@WTH828]

Is it weird that I have developed a little bit of a straight-lady crush on her? She's got the perfect package for Elphaba!

[@Linseyap]

Not at all weird. I just want to be in the same room as her!

[@maymeteorite]

Linseyap LOL I HAVE A HUGE GAY-LADY CRUSH ON HER YOU'RE FINE

[@anonym6981]

@@maymeteorite BRO SAME

[@noak5895]

2:52 the moment willemijn contemplated murdering seth right fuckin there

[@mshannah1832]

THAT RIFF

[@DanielledeVreede]

I love how her Dutch accent is terrible 😂 she's gotten so good at English that she can't mispronounce it anymore 😉

[@TheAshumms]

That ending riff!!! Hahahaha incredible!

[@dinobobbie]

Love this "Keine Ahnung" from Willemijn❤

[@luciahuang4231]

I wonder if she ever watches videos of herself

[@sarah_cary]

OH MY GOSH THE ENDING OF THE RIFFS! I want to be her when I grow up.

[@NastyChick005]

HAHAHAHAHHA WINNIE SMITH whos areal name is "Willemijn" xD

[@Skatjekim]

Lucia Huang Probably because he can't pronounce Willemijn and made that name up instead.

[@trey7883]

OMG that riff! I love that she was able to crack up at the craziness of the accent part lol

[@musicalshows3138]

Omg Seth! Willemijn is not german either!!😂😂

[@JanaKe_95]

She is more than amazing! I don't have any words to describe her

[@CatherineMara]

omg love her

[@lenafabienneseehofer3695]

with german accent...I try to write how the german speak that (I'm from germany..its not too difficult) "Itz teim tü troai deaiing gräwity" so in possibly it would have to sound

[@alexisericson241]

Das problem ist nur das sie nicht Deutsch ist. Es ist super schwer wenn das ist nicht mans muttersprache einen accent zu tun. Einen Sprechen wissen ist nicht einen accent wissen. (Ich spreche nicht gut Deutsch, entschuldingung)

[@chrisp4170]

Not a good advert for U.S. hosts, unfortunately.........He clearly has no clue. Its embarrassing

[@christianwritesmusic]

SOMEONE CALL IN NATALIE WEISS TO BREAK DOWN THAT RIFF

[@raquelmunoz2383]

This was brutal. I didn't know she was so amazing.

[@lucyh5122]

Isn't it four countries? West end too xx

[@mezza001]

Wooooooow!!!! Now I MUST go and see WILLEMIJN perform in Wicked!!

[@ifluvszelda]

The first and only time I saw Wicked on Broadway she was playing Elphaba and she was amazing.

[@BottleConcreteBlond]

She's gorgeous and that voice is amazing.

[@themikestephens33]

SHE BETTA SAAAANNNNGGGGG!!!!!!!! THAT RIFF!!!!!

[@SlowxParentsCrossing]

I was fan girling so hard at the end OMG

[@nitagrace47]

It's so weird to see her not green hahaha

[@Popzizeh22]

1:07 *laughs forever at Seths face* 💗💗💗💗💗💗💗

[@s.f.694]

This lady is the real deal :)

[@Boomstronkheks]

Slowly realising Dutchies really Got some people with pipes ???

[@alexanderzamora5930]

I know I have never seen her live but she’s my favourite elphaba

[@cameronprice2899]

Her language of riff is amazing

[@elisecrauwels6537]

She is absolutely amazing!!

[@sargeamigo123]

I’ve been wanting to play a game like this for a while, and it’s so cool to see she actually pulled it off!

[@amyw7976]

Did anyone else noticed it's spelt wrong at first

[@wickedly4]

THAT WAS AMAZING OMG

[@mikaelacash3791]

"And finally...the language of riff!" Sing, Willemijn, SING!!! I don't even care if you messed up the English with German accent, it's not your fault that's what the card said! And you're still one of the most talented people on this planet!

[@noonehitwonder]

i officially love this woman lol

[@laso2030]

OMG "Keine Ahnung"😂 gotta love willelmjin

[@Clemidreams]

Poor dear that sounds awfully difficult to jump from one language to another ! :P BTW could someone please explain to me what's the language of the riff? I actually have no clue...

[@Ravia1412]

Clemidreams It's not an actual language. A riff is what they call long notes like those at the end of Defying Gravity. It's just a joke, and an excuse to have her sing a really awesome inprovised riff ;)

[@Clemidreams]

Ravia1412 I see! Thank you so much!

[@MadelineAshton]

She is the best! I love her so much! ♥♥♥♥♥♥

[@MrBUpdate]

Saw her in London 2 weeks ago she was breath taking!

[@Skatjekim]

I envy you... When I went to see Wicked in The Netherlands, I had her understudy :( She was good too, but nothing compared to Willemijn. Hope she will play Elphaba angain here some day...

[@madisonsadler6850]

The language of the riff blessed my ears

[@miriamjenkins7337]

What an incredibly condescending and horrible presenter

[@renatomartinez3183]

Nos encanta a todos en la familia cuando canta "die eiskonigin" en alemán "ich lass loss, lass jetz loss" , it's a beautiful song, and her voice? Perfection!!!

[@thecrazychick927]

This remains one of the most impressive things I've ever seen.

[@avengedpoisonromance]

life goals: her riff

[@DanielMarinMusic]

This was chaotic but it's all I need

[@Skatjekim]

seen an heard this many times, love it every time! Willemijn is the best. So happy I got to see her preform live twice (Musicals in concert 2014&2015), my only regret is never seeing her play Elphie, when I went to see Wicked in The Netherlands, Renee van Wegbergen played Elphaba. :( Willemijn really is worlds best Elphaba ever!

[@theboyjames3065]

Omg I love this woman.

[@Wicko1erLad]

Haha, this guy is so obnoxious

[@noak5895]

How can he fuck up her name THAT BAD😂

[@lishha13]

THAT RIFF

[@Bibifly]

The best thing about it is the "Keine Ahnung" and Bart at the end