Cynthia Erivo has received widespread acclaim for her portrayal of Elphaba in the highly anticipated film adaptation. “It’s evil.” The film has already grossed $262 million domestically, making it one of the most successful Broadway adaptations.
In an interview with CBS Mornings, Erivo talked about how his friendship with co-star Ariana Grande, the singer who plays Glinda, became an important part of their on-screen chemistry. She revealed that they didn’t know each other before filming, even though they are now very close.
“She came to my house and we sat and chatted and talked,” Erivo said. “And we just talked about everything. We’d been there for years, and it was very easy. So some of us were like, ‘Oh, this could be, this Maybe things will work out. We’ll be fine, and I somehow knew we could get along with each other, and we’d find each other. ”
Their bond further deepened at a dinner hosted by director Jon M. Chu.
“Stephen Schwartz played the piano and we sang “For Good” together for the first time,” Erivo recalls. “Our voices are completely different, but somehow it made sense.”
According to the Tony Award winner, Erivo and Grande made an agreement early on to solidify their working relationship and promised to look out for each other.
“Before we started filming, we both talked about taking care of each other, creating the space that each other needs, receiving what each other needs, and making sure we’re generous to each other. That’s what we do. “We knew it was a big undertaking,” she said. “We knew we had a big responsibility, but we also knew that neither of us could do it alone.”
About fans singing together Erivo was obsessed with movies at the theater.
“I’m never going to be the guy who says, ‘Don’t sing,’ and I think it’s a really beautiful thing when people feel comfortable enough to sing along,” she said.
According to Erivo, a singable version of Wicked will be released in theaters on Christmas Day.
The actress said playing Elphaba, who later became the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz, required her to embrace her own weaknesses.
“It means people can see a little more of the humanity behind the characters,” she said. “It meant I had to allow myself a little bit of that, and it was scary, but I knew it made sense. It was the only way I could get this role.”
Looking back on her journey on Wicked, Erivo said she remains proud of the courage it took to bring authenticity to Elphaba.
“I have to put myself at risk a little bit… which is scary, but the only way to play her is to expose myself a little bit more,” she said.
