Cynthia Erivo Unveils ‘Pact’ with Ariana Grande and Additional Insights from Her New Book

Cynthia Erivo’s journey to portraying Elphaba in Wicked seems to have been written in the stars. Reflecting on this life-changing role, the 38-year-old actress shares her deep connection with the famous musical in her latest book, Simply More: A Book for Anyone Who Has Been Told They’re Too Much, which hit shelves on Tuesday, November 18.

Recounting a pivotal moment, Erivo recalls the first time she experienced Wicked on stage. “I saw Wicked on stage for the first time on my 25th birthday,” she reveals. “The performance was nothing short of breathtaking. For years, I had sung the music, but witnessing the entire spectacle — the lights, the music, the voices — unfold before me was a transformative experience that filled me to the core.”

However, despite the profound impact the show had on her, Erivo confesses she never imagined herself stepping into the shoes of Elphaba. “I didn’t dare dream it, and that’s for one simple reason. I had never seen someone like me in that role,” she explains. “My mind couldn’t fathom such a possibility. It’s challenging to aspire to what we haven’t seen. Even though Elphaba’s skin is green, and it shouldn’t matter, it did matter to me, at least in my mind.”

Despite her experience seeing the show, Erivo never saw herself taking on the role of Elphaba.

“I didn’t dare dream it, and that’s for one simple reason. I had never seen someone like me in that role,” she wrote. “My brain didn’t make the connection that such a thing would ever be possible. It’s hard to become what we don’t see. Even though Elphaba is green and it shouldn’t really matter, it did. At least, in my head.”

Erivo, of course, went on to play Elphaba in the Wicked movie adaptation — the first part hit theaters last year, with the second set to be released on Friday, November 21.

Through the course of her book, Erivo detailed the process of becoming Elphaba and how her friendship with costar Ariana Grande became a lifelong one.

Keep scrolling for Erivo’s biggest Wicked revelations from Simply More:

How It Started

When she was in school at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Erivo recalled feeling like “an outcast.” But she met a friend who could play the piano and they would perform “one song, from one specific show, over and over and over again — a song about a girl and a wizard, about hope and belonging.”

Her Connection to Elphaba

Erivo felt a “deep connection” to the character after seeing Wicked on stage for the first time.

“I recognized in her the feelings of someone who’s different. I’d always been able to recognize other outsiders like me, and I got that about her immediately,” the singer wrote. “We shared a deep feeling of kinship. Much, much later, I’d come to see the parallels between us, but I didn’t make those connections at that time.”

The ‘Wicked’ Movie Audition

When she heard whispers that there was a Wicked movie in the works, Erivo told her team “not” to share any details.

“Don’t tell me anything unless it looks like it might come my way,” she told them. “Deep down, I knew I would have loved to be part of the film. But if I ignored what was happening, maybe I’d be able to protect myself from being hurt if the part didn’t come my way.”

She met Wicked director Jon M. Chu at an event, and they discussed the movie without any “pressure” involved. Then, Erivo got an audition.

“I showed up with no frills, just me in a T-shirt and jeans, a pair of comfortable sneakers — or was it a pair of flats?” she recalled. “I wore a red knitted cardigan because it was soft and cozy and I wanted to feel comfortable. When I am at ease in my body, I am able to be relaxed in my art.”

Erivo told Chu her “connection” to Elpabha before she sang “Defying Gravity.” Obviously, she got the role.

Befriending Ariana Grande

Erivo and Grande (who plays Glinda in the Wicked movie) made a “pact” to protect each other at whatever cost.

“We hear often how female costars — or really, any costars — can sometimes let their egos get in the way until they battle each other, destroying the creative process for everyone involved,” Erivo wrote. “We were determined to do the opposite. To be the opposite. To build on each other’s strengths, to encourage the other, to see if, like our voices, we could become more than the sum of our parts.”

Erivo noted that she and Grande “worked in tandem” on set.

“Our partnership was important,” she added. “We shared a strong synergy, a commitment to authenticity, and that, combined with the natural connection we fostered both on and off set, allowed us to support each other emotionally and professionally.”

Their Wicked run has almost come to an end, but Erivo and Grande still “speak or text each other almost every day.”

The Physicality of the Role

Flying as Elphaba became the most “grueling” part of the role. Erivo would leave “bruised.” She even got “a bloody nose at some point” and broke some nails.

“Chafing: It sounds funny until you experience it,” she wrote. “What actually happened was that the harness rubbed on my skin so much and so hard and so long, over and over again, that the skin on my hips started to burn off. Chafing is no fun.”

It was a “deeply thrilling and absolutely exhilarating” experience despite being a lot of work. The Elphaba costume plus her harness for flying was “a huge pain to get out of,” so she would often go 12 to 14 hours without going to the bathroom.

“Throughout the day, people would ask if I needed the bathroom,” she said. “I wasn’t going to do it. I was not playing.”