Cynthia Erivo on the pivotal moment she decided to shave her hair: “I appreciate how much of a blank canvas it creates.”
Cynthia Erivo's decision to shave her head for her role as Elphaba in Wicked was a transformative experience. She described feeling open and vulnerable, appreciating the simplicity of her appearance with nothing but her eyes as the focal point. This bold move allowed her to connect more deeply with herself and her character
Her journey also involved creative collaboration with hairstylist Sim Camps, who helped design a wig that seamlessly blended with her scalp, dyed green to match Elphaba's iconic look.
Cynthia's approach to her roles emphasizes empathy and authenticity, even when portraying challenging characters.
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Cynthia Erivo and Jessica Williams are both incredibly talented individuals who have made significant contributions to the entertainment industry. Cynthia, known for her powerful performances on Broadway and in films, has also used her platform to champion representation and creativity. Jessica, a gifted actress and comedian, has captivated audiences with her wit and charm in various roles.
Interestingly, the two recently shared the stage at Canva's "Uncharted" event, where they discussed creativity, representation, and breaking barriers in their respective fields. Their conversation highlighted their shared commitment to defying expectations and pushing boundaries, both on and off the screen.
The “Defying Gravity” singer, 38, told the crowd during the Canva Create event at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles with host Jessica Williams on April 17 about the first time she “took the green off” and looked in the mirror at her shaved hair.
“I remember feeling so open and vulnerable when there was nothing there. I saw my face in the mirror with no hair at all. I thought I’d really like that. I like how open that is, I like how much of a black canvas it is, and I like that there's nothing but my eyes,” Erivo said, adding that she has felt more “in my body, in myself” since the big chop. Erivo also shared how she progressed into a shorter look leading up to her Elphaba gig.
“I used to get my hair braided in different colors,” Erivo shared with Jessica. “To this day there was one hair salad. I’m gonna get white and red braids. You couldn’t tell me that it wasn’t the best hairstyle I had ever done.”
“I had a lot of hair when I was younger,” she continued. “So, when I went to drama school, something happened ... when we were graduating. I thought, ‘Oh, I want people to see my face,’ and at that point, I had a lot of hair, thick and long, and I thought, ‘I want to see what it’s like to have short hair.’”
Cynthia Erivo's dedication to her craft shines through in her meticulous approach to embodying Elphaba in Wicked. Her hairstylist, Sim Camps, collaborated with a wig maker from a play she performed in 12 years ago to create a seamless look. They dyed the lace of the wig a light green, ensuring it appeared to grow naturally from her scalp a testament to the attention to detail in her transformation.
Beyond the physical aspects, Cynthia's process for connecting with her characters is deeply thoughtful. She seeks to understand the essence of the person she's portraying, even if she initially finds them unlikable. This challenge of finding empathy allows her to bring authenticity and depth to her roles, making her performances truly remarkable.
“So, it gives me the challenge of, well, ‘How do I approach this person? How do I have empathy and make this person real?’ ... ‘How do I make other people maybe have empathy for this person, even though ordinarily you might not?’” she revealed. “That's sort of how I approach the work and the characters that I play. ... If I’m daunted by them then I want to discover who they are.”
“It's the same feeling how I sing and the songs I choose,” Erivo continued, ahead of the release of her second studio album, I Forgive You, on June 6. “Is it going to make me work harder than I normally do? Is it going to make me challenge how much I can do? Is it going to make me push at the edges of the boundaries that I think I might have? And if I do think there are boundaries, can I move past them?”
Cynthia Erivo's portrayal of Elphaba in Wicked truly showcases her ability to push creative boundaries. Despite the established "bible" of how the character is traditionally played, she discovered new ways to bring her own influence and interpretation to the role. This realization allowed her to explore deeper layers of Elphaba's character, opening up a world of creative possibilities.
Her approach highlights her commitment to challenging herself and redefining the limits of her craft. It's inspiring to see how she embraces roles that push her to grow and innovate.
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