Reflecting on her portrayal of the iconic green witch, Erivo shared that certain elements of Elphaba’s story resonated deeply with her own life experiences. The strained father-daughter dynamic within the narrative mirrored her personal history. Erivo, who has been estranged from her father since her teenage years, drew parallels between their relationship and that of Elphaba’s with her own father.

Cynthia Erivo said her relationship with her father reminds her of Elphaba’s

The actor recounted a significant turning point in her relationship with her father, which began with a disagreement over a transit pass during her teenage years. Although her father had never been a constant presence, he supported her transportation needs until a fateful argument. After a heated exchange, he agreed to continue financial assistance but made it clear that he no longer wished to maintain contact. This personal experience undoubtedly lent an authentic and heartfelt layer to Erivo’s portrayal of Elphaba, enriching the film’s emotional tapestry.

She said she feels an affinity with Elphaba, whose biological father is the Wizard of Oz and has a complicated relationship with the man she presumed was her biological father. 

“There were so many sort of real parallels — the relationship with her father, the relationship to being in spaces that don’t really include you,” she told NPR. “The feelings you see in the movie are very real feelings.”

Erivo shared how she feels about her father now.

“I think I’m in a real place of acceptance, and a strange apathy as well,” she said. “I don’t wish him harm, but it’s not like I’m waiting for some grand resolution. I’m sort of OK with it being exactly what it is. I have no desire to start a relationship. I have no desire to mend a relationship. But it doesn’t really occupy my thoughts.”

Wicked: For Good hits theaters on Nov. 21.