Fresh Air Cynthia Erivo's Road To 'Wicked'
Nov 17, 2025
Cynthia Erivo, an acclaimed actress and singer known for her powerful performances, shares her journey to embodying Elphaba in Wicked. She explores emotional parallels between her life and her character, revealing how singing and using scent helped her connect deeply to the role. Erivo also opens up about her experiences at drama school, confronting challenges, and how her memoir, Simply More, reflects resilience. A standout moment includes her decision to shave her head for authenticity, showcasing her commitment to character transformation.
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Character Discovery During Performance
- Cynthia Erivo realized Elphaba resonated with her while singing and then more deeply while filming the role.
- She connected the character's family dynamics and outsider feelings to her own life.
Tough Drama School And Early Compromises
- Erivo recounts feeling misunderstood and marginalized at RADA, including microaggressions and critiques about her body.
- She described backstage lip-syncing early in her career and the shame she later forgave herself for.
Using Scent To Access Character
- Erivo uses scent as a tool to inhabit characters, creating different perfumes or essences for each stage of a role.
- For Elphaba she even wore a fragrance called Witchy Woo and mixed oud to anchor emotional differences.
