Cynthia Erivo reflects on her ‘Wicked’ character's journey

For Cynthia Erivo, her Wicked emerald-coloured character Elphaba has changed her as a person, pushing her to confront her insecurities.

Recently, while speaking at a Q&A session by Variety, Erivo reflected on the years-long journey with her sharp-minded Wicked character.

She remembered being a 20-year-old student, clinging to the music of Wicked long before she ever watched the show come to life on stage.

Elphaba urged her to step out of her boundaries and confront personal fears and experiences that she had been hiding away, including perceptions of beauty, loneliness and loss.

“I was too scared to look at what beauty is when seeing through the eyes of those who don’t think that you’re beautiful,” she said.

The Oscar-nominated British actress also praised director Jon M. Chu and showed love for her castmates for creating a family-like bond.

“You don’t get a group of people this close often on a set,” Erivo said. “You don’t earn family like this often.”

Wicked: For Good, the second instalment in Jon M. Chu’s two-part take on the iconic Broadway musical, picks up the journey of Elphaba and Glinda as they deal with the messy mix of friendship, ambition, sacrifice and the lore that ultimately defines them as villain and hero.

It’s already shaping up to be a major Oscars heavyweight this season, with many expecting back-to-back nominations for Erivo and Grande.

Wicked: For Good opens in theatres on November 21.

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