As the audience continues to hold space for the lyrics to 'Defying Gravity', Bad Star Cynthia Erivo makes sure they understand the intent of her green-haired heroine.
On Tuesday (November 26), Erivo spoke to Variety about creating her version of the iconic character, saying she wanted her Elphaba to intrinsically resemble the actress beneath the makeup and wigs. “I didn't want to get away from Elphaba,” he said. “I wanted to connect the two.”
Part of that connection came in the design of the character's new hair, which Erivo says was largely the theme — where the stage version of the show usually depicts Elphaba with long, wavy black hair, Erivo's Elphaba has sub-black micro-braids , which the actress wanted as a nod to “what was under the green too.”
When asked what it meant to her to have the most-viewed performance of this character played by a black queer woman, Erivo called it “awesome” and said she felt she was given “this incredible gift” when it comes to character. “[Her] reason for existence it's about showing that all your difference is what makes you special,” he said. “You can fly above anyone's expectations, that you can be whatever you are meant to be, and that the search to find that can be difficult, but when it happens, it can be truly liberating.”
He added that he wanted to dedicate the character to anyone who has felt ostracized by the world. “I hope it's a little bit of a love letter to everyone who feels different, who feels out of place, to all the black women who walked into rooms and felt like they weren't welcome,” she said. “To anyone who walked into a room and felt unwelcome. I'm really happy to be the conduit through which this character was brought to the world.”
Check out excerpts from Erivo's interview with Variety below:
