Cynthia Erivo Breaks Down in Tears Upon Landing Elphaba Role in Wicked

Cynthia Erivo recently opened up about her emotional audition experience for the highly anticipated film adaptation of Wicked, in which she stars alongside Ariana Grande. As fans eagerly await the theatrical release this November, Cynthia recounted the pivotal moment her journey toward playing the iconic role of Elphaba began.

In Wicked, Erivo embodies Elphaba Thropp, a complex character marked by her green skin who ultimately becomes known as the Wicked Witch of the West. Grande takes on the role of Galinda Upland, a popular young woman whose friendship with Elphaba eventually turns into rivalry.

For over a year, Universal Pictures has been building excitement around the film with posters, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and trailers, preparing audiences for the cinematic experience that is set to unfold in two parts. The story follows Elphaba’s college life at Shiz University and her evolving relationship with Galinda, exploring the events that lead her to become the infamous witch.

During a recent interview on SiriusXM’s This Life of Mine with James Corden, Cynthia shared a touching anecdote about her initial reaction upon learning she had secured the role. Having sung songs from Wicked since she was 20, she was well-acquainted with the material by the time of her audition. She vividly recalled a three-hour session where she performed four songs alongside two potential Glindas, stating that each moment in the audition room filled her with joy.

Cynthia reminisced about how she and a friend would often rehearse the entire Wicked score at drama school, fostering a deep connection to the music long before the audition. After wrapping up, she felt she had done reasonably well, choosing to set her expectations aside. Nearly a month later, the long-awaited call came from director Jon M. Chu, known for his work on Crazy Rich Asians.

Cynthia was in London at 1 a.m. when a frantic email from her agent arrived. The message indicated there was an urgent opportunity to discuss an exciting new project involving a beloved story, but the details were scarce. Despite the late hour, she jumped at the chance.

Once on the Zoom call, she was taken aback when Jon Chu introduced the project as a tale about a woman who transforms into a green witch. Overwhelmed by emotion, she found herself collapsing into tears, momentarily losing herself in the significance of the moment. She humorously recalled how her glasses flew up as she buried her head in her hands, unable to fully process the reality of what was happening.

Cynthia’s heartfelt recounting of her journey to Elphaba has fans even more excited for Wicked, which is set to light up theaters on November 22, along with the highly anticipated Part Two slated for November 21, 2025. Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to the film’s release.