Cynthia Erivo reveals powerful reason behind Elphaba's micro-braids in Wicked
For actress Cynthia Erivo, landing the role of Elphaba in the cinematic adaptation of Wicked was so much more than adding another film to her CV.
And in being the second ever Black actress to play the legendary part - which originally featured on Broadway - there were vital nuances she fought hard to include in the production, including a micro-braided hairstyle.
For those out of the loop, 37-year-old Erivo plays the 'Wicked Witch of the West' in the star-studded film, which actually serves as a prequel to the events in The Wizard of Oz.
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Alongside popstar Ariana Grande - who plays Glinda the 'Good Witch', the pair portray Elphaba and Glinda's relationship as youngsters, prior to their colossal 'falling out', which is celebrated in the 1939 blockbuster.
Wicked has already impressed critics around the world, with many fans of the toe-tapping musical believing Erivo is a shoe-in for a Best Actress nomination at next year's Academy Awards.
As we say, however, the chance to play Elphaba was particularly poignant for the actress, who told Variety this week that being able include several nods to her own heritage was of great importance, telling the publication that her character's hair was absolutely vital.
For those who haven't yet seen the magical musical, Eviro's Elphaba wears her hair in intricate micro-braids - a stark change from the signature long waves that appeared previously in the Broadway hit.
The change was far from a coincidence for the Grammy-winning actress, however, who this week claimed to have brought up the importance of diversifying the legendary character with producers early on, so as to share the experience with BAME (Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic) viewers.
"I asked if we could reimagine that hair as micro-braids because I knew you’d still have the movement," she explained. "And you could still have the length, but there was a texture that was slightly different to what you would normally see on stage."
She went on to add: "It was a direct connection between me as a Black woman and Elphaba as a green lady."
Portraying Elphaba with micro-braids wasn't the only way that the Broadway veteran was able to hold onto her own identity in the role, revealing that including lengthy acrylic nails - which Erivo is famed for donning - was a way to keep her character 'connected to the person underneath'.
"I was doing the research for this character, and I noticed that the original Wicked Witch had nails," she previously told People Magazine.
Eviro - equally famed for her award-winning role in The Colour Purple - also pointed out that Elphaba's nails visible change in the big-name production, getting longer and darker as her powers intensify.
"I wanted a progression," she added. "How she grows as a witch and a woman. Some people wear makeup, I always have my nails done.
"It’s like another extended way of expressing myself."
The role of Elphaba is so much more than visuals for Erivo, however - who is only the second Black woman to portray Elphaba (following Alexia Khadime's 2008-2010 stint).
Ahead of the film's November release, she confessed to hoping her rendition of the character would serve as 'a bit of a love letter to everyone who feels different, who feels out of place, to all of the Black women who have walked into rooms and felt like they haven’t been welcomed'.
She also included 'anyone who’s walked into a room and felt like they haven’t been welcomed'.
"I am really glad to be the conduit through which this character has been brought to the world," Cynthia continued.
Topics: Beauty, Celebrity, TV And Film, Wicked, Cynthia Erivo
Rhianna Benson