Cynthia Erivo sheds light on her post-filming emotional ritual

Cynthia Erivo has admitted she needs a “proper emotional cleanse” the moment she wraps a movie, and that means heading straight to therapy.

The 38-year-old actress, who stars opposite Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey in the upcoming Wicked films, said she carries so much emotion during filming that she has to release it once the cameras stop rolling.

Speaking to Variety, she explained: “Sleep. And then a therapy session. Through the process, I’m often holding onto emotions, and once the thing is released, I really allow myself to let it all go.”

She recalled finishing a previous film and ending up in tears during an entire flight to South Africa. 

“I just cried the whole way and let myself be,” she said.

Cynthia also revealed she takes her physical wellbeing just as seriously. 

Before she arrives on any set, she makes sure there’s a treadmill waiting in her room. 

“There’s no excuse,” she laughed. 

The Harriet actress also opened up about the heartfelt pact she made with Ariana before stepping into Oz together. 

In her new book, she writes: “We committed to protecting and caring for each other through this process.”

The Outsider star says the pair formed a “strong synergy”, becoming each other’s emotional anchors.

What's next for Cynthia Erivo?

Erivo has a packed film schedule ahead, with multiple major projects lined up, including two films slated for release in 2027. 

One of the biggest is a star-studded adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi’s 2018 bestselling novel Children of Blood and Bone, in which she’ll appear alongside Idris Elba, Viola Davis, Damson Idris and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

RELATED: Former Elphaba shows love for Cynthia Erivo’s performance in ‘Wicked’