Cynthia Erivo On Why It Was Important For Elphaba To Have Micro Braids In 'Wicked'

Cynthia Erivo has opened up some more about why she pushed for Elphaba to have micro braids in the movie adaptation of "Wicked." Universal Pictures / Courtesy Everett CollectionAs I’m sure you are aware, the hotly-anticipated film was released to huge critical acclaim last month, with Erivo and her costar Ariana Grande, who plays Glinda, dominating the headlines with their regular viral moments during their exhaustive press tour.And while it feels as though we’ve heard everything about the making of Wicked from an acting perspective, Variety has now lifted the lid on all the more understated onscreen nuances in an interview with the movie’s behind-the-scenes crew.In this interview, costume designer Paul Tazewell detailed how he used Elphaba’s costumes to further reflect her story, which he summarized as: “A young woman who was marginalized because of the color of her skin.” Universal Pictures / Courtesy Everett CollectionIn case you didn’t know, Wicked is a loose adaptation of the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which in turn was inspired by the 1900 L.Frank Baum novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its 1939 movie adaptation.It was turned into a musical stage show in 2003, and has been a hugely successful staple in the theatre world ever since.If you haven’t seen the movie yet, Elphaba is first introduced to viewers as a baby who is born with green skin, leading to her being ostracized by her own family as well as the rest of society.

Universal Pictures / Courtesy Everett CollectionAnd while there was a whole team who took charge of the vast majority of Elphaba’s appearance in the film, Erivo is the one who pushed for some of the most poignant aspects of it.Advertisement Speaking to Variety, "Wicked" makeup, hair, and prosthetic designer, Frances Hannon, said of Elphaba: “The green never changed, but the strength of her lips, her eyes, and the nails do.And that came from Cynthia.” Un...