*Cynthia Erivo, star of “Wicked” and Academy Award nominee, has opened up about the mixed emotions that come with her rising fame. The actress, who portrays Elphaba in the beloved musical film, sees deep parallels between herself and her green-skinned character—particularly in their complicated family dynamics.
Born in South London to Nigerian parents, Erivo experienced a fractured relationship with her father, who disowned her and her sister when she was 16. Despite her success, she remains estranged from him, a struggle that echoes Elphaba’s own sense of isolation.
Erivo told The Guardian: “I think I was surprised by how connected I felt to Elphaba. Surface, we’re different: I walk into the room, I’m bald-headed, I’ve got no eyebrows, I’ve got nails, I’ve got piercings, I’ve got tattoos, for me that’s my everyday normal but a passerby might think: ‘What is happening here?’
“But as you peel away those layers, yes, I understand what it feels like to be set apart from everybody else, and not fit in; yes, I understand what it feels like to be a kid whose father doesn’t care; yes, I understand what it’s like to feel alone when you’re in a room full of people who don’t know where you’re coming from or why you’re so tired, or why you do things your way.
“Me and Elphaba had that same journey, trying to fit, and it doesn’t work. Your only choice is to be who you are.”
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Erivo, who is nominated for an Academy Award for her “Wicked” performance, continues to grapple with themes of acceptance, identity, and belonging—shaped by both her personal struggles and her journey in the spotlight.
“I’ve never really talked about this before. I’ve never really talked about how tough my journey has been. I think I’m just so grateful, and you take the good with the bad,” she said.
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jon M. Chu and based on Gregory Maguire’s bestselling novel, “Wicked” is the first chapter of a two-part immersive experience, with “Wicked: Part Two” slated for a release theatrically on November 26, 2025.
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