“Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commissions or revenue from certain articles through these links.”

Elphaba by Cynthia Erivo has micro braids. This is new for the character, who has become iconic on Broadway with his straight hair under his pointy hat. But when Erivo was cast in the film version of Wicked (planned as a two-part series), his first request was for the witch to have a textured hairstyle. “It connects me to who I am under the skin,” Erivo says. “There’s a complete connection between me and her: we’re not just erasing who’s playing this character.”

Helping create this Elphaba — from her freckles to the color of her eyes and nails — was a detailed process that “allowed me to really fall in love with this woman,” Erivo tells me as we sit on a couch at the Equinox Hotel in New York. This is not an opportunity she would have ever imagined for herself. There has never been a full-time Black Elphaba on Broadway; Alexia Khadime remains the only black woman to hold this distinction, since her run in London’s West End (2008-2010; 2023-present). “Why would this change for the film? I couldn’t even dream of wanting it,” says Erivo. “When you’re in that skin and you’re walking around, you’re immediately an ‘other.’ It was a truly wonderful experience to be able to take on this role, outside of my own skin, and into the skin of someone else, who was also “othered”. It’s important to know how you feel. I hope this changes and changes things through the stages.

Born and raised in the Stockwell area of ​​London, Erivo trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art before appearing as Deloris Van Cartier on the UK tour of Sisters Act musical. She had small roles in Michaela Coel Chewing gum and crime thriller The tunnelafter landing the role of Celie Harris in the 2013 revival The color purple in London’s West End. When the show transferred to Broadway more than two years later, she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She also won a Daytime Emmy for The color purplethe performance of the cast on Today’s show and a Grammy for the cast album. “When I played this role in London, it changed the way people saw me there,” says Erivo. “When I did it on Broadway, that jump started it all.”

Erivo then moved from stage to screen, racking up awards along the way. For her portrayal of Harriet Tubman in Harrietshe earned her first two Academy Award nominations, for Best Actress and Best Original Song. She is now one price away from the coveted EGOT. Then, she finished her second original album; focusing on her own production company, Edith’s Daughter; make an appearance in the next season of Peacock’s Impassive face; and of course, embark on another press tour to Villain: Part Two. The film and music franchise allows Erivo to bring her theatrical roots to the screen in a robust way, singing live and performing her own stunts. “It’s so strange, because I feel like I’m leading here without realizing that’s where I was heading,” she says. “I don’t believe everything happens by chance. I am also aware of the magnitude of the gift this represents. I am very happy with this experience and would do it again without hesitation, because I learned a lot about myself.

On working with Ariana Grande

I gained a sister. At this point we talk almost every day. We were both blown away by how instantly connected we were. I remember the first day we got together. It was with (director) Jon M. Chu, and Stephen Schwartz (who wrote Wicked(the music and lyrics from the OG Broadway musical and movie) were finished. He played us a few songs and we sang together for the first time. It worked. It’s a very intimate thing to sing with someone. There is a very beautiful dance: I must follow you, you must follow me. It was one of the most rewarding things to know that there was someone who was that open and available, because she was, and that meant I could be too.

We also had a great relationship off-screen. We had some great conversations, some of which weren’t easy, but that’s what relationships are all about. Those difficult conversations you can have with someone that mean you have to be vulnerable are what bring you together.

By staying true to herself

I don’t know if I had the language when I was a child. I knew I wanted to be an actress. I knew I wanted to be a singer. I knew I wanted to succeed. These are things that were very clear to me. I don’t know if I would have imagined it like that. It’s wonderful, not just because of the things it brings, but because I get to do it like me. To be at this point and truly feel like myself, and also be open to any growth that might come, is truly wonderful.

On the women of Hollywood who left their mark

Michelle Yeoh, because of her active and physical character, and because she managed to combine dramatic acting with stunts and physicality. Every time I’m with her, I’m like the child at her feet saying, “Tell me everything, I want to know everything.” » She has so much knowledge and she is so welcoming. Cicely Tyson. The audacity, the desire to keep playing, to keep growing and trying different things – different characters, different styles. At one point she was bald herself and she made the decision to shave it all off. I love it, and I think that’s probably what inspired my decision to shave my head, which is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for myself. Barbra Streisand, because she’s a true Renaissance woman. Being able to direct, act, sing, write, do all those things and do them spectacularly. She’s one of those women who is totally herself, and I love that. Viola Davisquite simply because it continues to grow stronger. She still has hunger inside her. These different women who chose to continue playing, to try, to do different things.

At the intersection of his queer and Catholic identities

I deeply believe that God creates people as they are meant to be. The rules people impose on others have nothing to do with me and my faith. I cannot allow the narrow thinking of some Christians or Catholics about what faith is to affect how much I think about faith. Faith is so big, much bigger than the established rules. As time changes, we are also meant to change. If loving someone bothers you, then we need to refocus. I think the main rule we are all supposed to follow is to love yourself as you love yourself. That’s it. That’s the most important thing. Am I making room to care for others, to be kind to others, to be as good to others as I would like others to be to me? If these are the things I follow, then I think I follow my faith.

To be painted green every day

They created a green especially for me. It was literally “Cynthia Green.” Depending on how much green we were doing (head, chest, hands, whole body), it could take up to four hours. Everything was special, right down to my eyebrows. (My makeup artist) created a vacuum form so the freckles stay in the same place every day. I have a million piercings, so they brought in a prosthetic artist, who basically created a shell for my ears – they’re not my ears!

Do your own stunts and sing live

I got up at six in the morning for my treadmill workout. I was running and singing on the treadmill. I always made sure my body was ready. I needed to get my body used to being plugged into cables (for the flying scenes). I got a shiver from it. I enjoyed the power of being able to ride on a wire and be knocked down. It won’t go well the first time – maybe the second or third – and that’s okay.

On the duet she would love to do with Ariana Grande

I feel like I want to find a Whitney (Houston) number and split it in two. “Run to You” could be really beautiful together.

On the project that taught him the most

It’s a draw between Harriet And The stranger (the 2020 HBO miniseries based on the Stephen King novel of the same name). On The strangerI had to use different tools for this character, and tools that I didn’t know I had until I had to use them. It was a real up and down time during filming because it wasn’t easy at all. The conditions were crazy. We were in the middle of nowhere. We filmed in a cave. I got terribly, terribly ill. It was bad, but I loved this character so much.

Harriet really taught me resilience, patience and strength. And it also taught me how far I would go for the characters I play. I was willing to do whatever it took to blackmail her. I was willing to do whatever it took to make it three-dimensional and real. I was willing to do whatever it took to make sure I understood and everyone understood what this character had gone through. When I was told we had to do a scene where we go through neck-deep water, I said to myself, “Great, I’m going to go through neck-deep water.” “Would you like a wetsuit underneath?” “No I don’t. If I have a wetsuit underneath you won’t get the reaction you’re supposed to get from me if I have a little heat. I want to feel what I feel when I walk in the water.

On how she takes care of herself

I have very good people around me. I’m learning to say no to things I really can’t do. But it’s about body, mind and soul. I need to practice. I have to be careful about the things I put in my body. I do things that bring me joy just for me. People go shopping, but I go shopping because I love shopping. I love fashion. These things nourish my soul.

Main image: Jacket, skirt, belt, Louis Vuitton. Earrings, Harry Winston.

Makeup by Keita Moore at Only Agency; manicure by Gina Oh; produced by Dana Brockman at Viewfinders.

A version of this story appears in the December 2024/January 2025 issue of ELLE.

Buy now

This story is part of the ELLE 2024 Women in Hollywood portfolio. Click the link below for all cover stories.

LEARN MORE

You might also like