Ariana got her big break in 2008, where played the role of Charlotte in the musical 13 on Broadway, for which she won a National Youth Theatre Association Award. When she joined the musical, Grande left her high school, North Broward Preparatory School, but continued to be enrolled. The school sent materials to her so she could study with tutors.
In 2009, Grande was cast in the Nickelodeon television show Victorious as the "adorably dimwitted" Cat Valentine. She co-starred along with fellow 13 actress Elizabeth Gillies. She had to dye her hair red every other week for the role because the red hair was a feature that the network felt would fit the personality of Cat. The show premiered to the second largest audience for a live-action series in Nickelodeon history with 5.7 million viewers.The role helped propel Grande's career, but she was more interested in music, stating that acting is "fun, but music has always been first and foremost with me." Her character was compared to "Brittany Murphy's performance as the hapless Tai in Clueless" (1995) and described as being "very impressionable and easily swayed" but "generally sweet".
In 2013, Nickelodeon created Sam & Cat as a spinoff of both Victorious and fellow Nickelodeon sitcom, iCarly. Ariana reprised her role as Cat Valentine alongside fellow co-star, Jennette McCurdy, who played Sam Puckett. Season one was signed on for 40 episodes. Despite successful ratings, the show ended in 2014, after only 36 episodes.
Ariana has been in other work outside of Nickelodeon. She made a breif stint as Chanel No.2 in the short lived Fox horror comedy Scream Queens. She also starred in the production of Hairspray Live! as Penny Pingleton. She has made guest appearances on Family Guy, Saturday Night Live and was even in the first seasn of the Apple Music show Carpool Karaoke.
| Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Charlotte | 2008 |
| Victorious | Cat Valentine | 2010-2013 |
| Sam & Cat | Cat Valentine | 2013-2014 |
| Swindle | Amanda Benson | 2013 |
| Scream Queens | Sonya Herfmann / Chanel No.2 | 2015 |
| Hairspray Live | Penny Pingleton | 2016 |
| Saturday Night Live | Host and Musical Guest | 2016 |
| Carpool Karoke | Herself | 2017 |