As a Black woman playing Elphaba in “Wicked,” Cynthia Erivo explains why she truly cried.

“She is really very special to me.”

Cynthia Erivo has had quite an emotional press tour for Wicked but the waterworks really started well before the last shot on set was finished. If you’ve been on social media lately or caught some celebrity news programs, it’s likely you’ve seen Cynthia and Ariana Grande crying while promoting Part One of the movie musical. This became such a regular event that it turned into a meme.

Cynthia also expressed to Variety the personal meaning it holds to her as a Black woman to play the role of Elphaba Thropp (who eventually becomes the Wicked Witch of the West).

“Actually,” said Green, “practically everyone believes themselves to be an outsider at some time or other. “

This could be just the sort of statement which would be considered to be humorous, but which might also just as well be considered quite true of very many individuals personally. For example: Green means all those people, as she puts it, who falsely think themselves outsiders. Another such example: “There is a whole depth of identity inside me and Black women navigate spaces not necessarily feeling welcomed,” Aniya says.

‘”Announcing the new reality, Ms. Aniya at her own.” Green comprises everyone, who considers himself or herself untenable,” states Aniya Otherwise, “The essence of my identity is deep and not recognized by most; I have really entered an environment that really isn’t as inviting to black women.”

This was the story to tell, and thankfully, I had a director who would allow me to include that personal perspective in the approach. That moment when [Elphaba] is told that the green is a problem? Those tears were true. It’s based on my understanding of what it is to feel that experience. I cannot tell that without sharing those emotions.”
The Tony and Grammy award-winning have said that for her, playing this role is challenging because she wants audiences to see Elphaba in all her frailty and humanity, rather than through the lens of her skin color.

“You may find the distraction of the green. Crossing it, it becomes apparent to people that she’s a person, and her sorrowful eyes and heart’s pain are recognized. ” “With Elphaba, I found this wonderful challenge of making her human and even the green she embodies; she is really significant for me as a character. “
Speaking about her strand, Cynthia revealed that in the film she decided to show Elphaba flaunting micro-braids as one of her protective styles to keep up that tie she has with the character.

Let me restate that; “It is to show how adaptable braids can be,” because as she continued, “And how happy hair can make you feel; how deeply it can evoke those feelings- just an ideal example.”