Cynthia Erivo, the Black, bald, queer actress who casts a spell in ‘Wicked,’ the big musical of the year

“I always joke that if I wrote down the story of my life, it would look like a fairy tale, almost.” This statement, made by British actress, singer, and writer Cynthia Erivo in 2018 to The Hollywood Reporter, might sound like a reflection from the past, but it almost feels prophetic. At the time, Erivo was still an aspiring talent. Yes, she was making waves on Broadway as Celie in The Color Purple, but she had yet to step foot on a film set and had just signed her first two movie contracts.

Fast forward six years, and her face and name are now gracing theaters worldwide as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, opposite Ariana Grande’s pink and bubbly Glinda. They star in the highly anticipated film adaptation of Wicked, one of the most successful and beloved musicals of the 21st century. With 65 million spectators and $6 billion in global box office revenue, the musical has long held a special place in theater history. Now, the Wicked film has finally arrived in theaters, and its fairy tale, or rather, witches’ tale, is just beginning. But the story had been brewing for years.

There were signs. Erivo had always known that her place was on stage, long before she ever considered acting in front of a camera. In fact, she made the decision to drop out of a psychology degree at the University of East London and pursue a career at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art — where she is now vice president. Before graduating in 2010, she would often find quiet corners with classmates to sing and rehearse. She even memorized the script of Wicked, even though she had never seen the show. Fascinated by it, promised to take herself to the show to celebrate her 25th birthday. She went alone and connected strongly with the story.

But long before Erivo became Elphaba, many things had to happen: small roles, musicals, plays, and, above all, the role of Celie in The Color Purple — first on London’s Off West End, then in New York. That performance earned her a Tony Award, followed by a Grammy and an Emmy. From there, she built a solid foundation for the global fame she now enjoys.

The journey to Wicked has been a three-year process since the final casting was announced — and this is only the first part; the second will arrive on November 21, 2025. Indeed, Hollywood had been eyeing the project for over a decade, searching for directors (names like J.J. Abrams, Ryan Murphy, and Rob Marshall were floated), a solid script, and, most importantly, stars.

Ariana Grande saw the Broadway show as a child, and Kristin Chenoweth, the original Glinda, was one of her mentors. Grande was in, and most fans saw her as the perfect choice. Erivo, however, wasn’t so obvious a pick. Though she had already portrayed iconic figures like singer Aretha Franklin and activist Harriet Tubman (with two Oscar nominations, including Best Lead Actress and Best Song) as well as the Blue Ferry in Pinocchio, this role was something entirely different. There were many contenders, including Grande herself, who trained to sing and perform as Elphaba.

The casting of Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba in Wicked was a conscious, bold choice by director Jon M. Chu, who wanted to bring a fresh perspective to the beloved musical. Erivo, a Black, bisexual, and shaven-headed woman, embodies a young witch marginalized for her green skin and powerful abilities. This casting decision was intentional, breaking away from a musical that can be considered cheesy. As Erivo herself has shared throughout the film’s promotion, her role is more than just an interpretation of a character; it’s a statement about identity, empowerment, and belonging.

“As I stand here in front of you: Black, bald-headed, pierced, and queer, I can say I know a thing or two about being the other,” she said at the Los Angeles LGBT Center Gala in May, where she picked up an award for her work. “Elphaba’s story is […] about how a colorful, powerful, magical woman — despite being disparaged, demonized, and discriminated against — becomes a hero. Wicked is a reclamation and a reimagining of all the labels that are used against her. It is the proclamation of her right to exist in all her power,” she continued. “If that sounds familiar to you colorful, magical people in this room — it should.”

Erivo spoke of the power of beauty, the blending of voices, and the need for the community to see itself reflected in media. “The path is not easy, but it is deeply satisfying,” she said.

Erivo’s journey to embody Elphaba was indeed challenging. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, she explained that she rehearsed for months, both vocally and physically. The actresses sing live on set, and Erivo was determined to perform her scenes without doubles, which meant singing in makeup, wig, corset and harness, sometimes flying on a broom. So that no special effects had to be used, she underwent two-and-a-half to four-hour makeup sessions to paint her face and hands green and wore contact lenses on the 12-hour-long days. And she rehearsed for months and months with Ariana Grande, but the experience was about something more: it was about forming a friendship.

Grande — a two-time Grammy winner who grew up performing on movies stages and Nickelodeon sets — also embraced the challenge of Wicked. Grande shared with Vanity Fair that when she saw Erivo perform at the 2020 Oscars, she was struck by Erivo’s performance. “She’s my favorite female voice,” said Grande, who had hoped to sing with her one day. Once they were cast in their respective roles, the two actresses met at Erivo’s home in the U.K., where they spent hours sitting on the floor, chatting and getting to know one another. Then one day, they began singing together.

“It’s a very intimate, vulnerable thing to be able to do with another person, which is to sing,” Erivo told the Los Angeles Times. “And I think from that moment on, our relationship has grown and grown and grown and we’ve fostered and allowed for a really honest, caring relationship. We talk to each other every day, from the moment we were doing this film to today. And I think that has allowed us to really take care of each other on this crazy, wonderful ride that we’re on. And also it meant that we could really connect when we were on this film.”

Their chemistry, both on and off screen, is undeniable. Their months-long promotional journey has showcased their deep bond. From attending the Met Gala together in May to being present at the opening of the Paris Olympics in July, their connection has only deepened in recent months as the film’s premiere draws closer. They’ve been seen sharing playful moments, like taking a lie detector test together and eating spicy chicken wings, as well as whispering to each other, holding hands, crying together and sporting matching outfits.

While filming Wicked, Grande separated from her husband and began dating one of her co-stars, who was also married. In the early days of the film’s promotion, Erivo expressed her frustration with the way some fans reproduced the original poster for Wicked, covering her eyes and part of her face. She described it as “deeply hurtful,” and “the most offensive” and “degrading” thing she had ever seen. In each of these situations, not without their fair share of drama, Erivo and Grande have leaned on each.

Movie critics agree that Cynthia Erivo is the heart and soul of Wicked. Her performance, highlighted by her powerful voice and nuanced acting, full of emotional depth and subtle expressions, promises a bright future for her and sets the stage for a strong awards season. Many predict she’ll earn nominations, though likely not wins, for major awards, including the Oscars.

Erivo would make history with a second nomination for Best Leading Actress, becoming only the second Black woman, after Viola Davis, to receive two nominations in this category. Additionally, her performance would mark the second time a Black woman has been nominated for Best Actress in a musical film, a distinction not seen in seven decades since Dorothy Dandridge’s nomination for Carmen Jones in 1954. With the Wicked sequel set for release in 2025, Erivo’s journey in this iconic role could break even more records. Her fairy tale is just beginning, and it promises to be a long one.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAÍS USA Edition