Cynthia Erivo Star of the Global Hit “Wicked” Embraces Her Witchy Vibes Both On and Off Screen
This is exactly what a Hollywood celebrity looks like.
In late February, 38-year-old British actress Cynthia Erivo was seen strolling down the main street of Tokyo’s luxury district Ginza (Chuo Ward), draped in a full-length fur coat. Erivo, who stars alongside Ariana Grande (31) in the currently airing film Wicked: The Witches, was in Japan for promotional events with Grande.
“After making her acting debut in 2011, she starred in Sister Act on stage, and by 2013, she had risen to fame playing the lead role of Celie in The Color Purple in London. This catapulted her to the top ranks of musical theatre. In 2016, she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, followed by a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album in 2017.
In Wicked, she plays the role of the Wicked Witch Elphaba (the green witch), showcasing her vocal prowess. The movie’s soundtrack debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart. Erivo has been nominated for Best Actress at the 97th Academy Awards, marking her second nomination. She became the second Black actress to achieve this honor, following Viola Davis (59),” shared a film magazine reporter.
As Erivo walked through Ginza with her bodyguard, fans recognized her and requested autographs, which she graciously signed. Onlookers were particularly impressed by her strikingly long, brightly manicured nails.
In Wicked, Erivo’s character Elphaba is also known for her vivid green nails, a detail she discussed in an interview with VARIETY (December 17, 2024).
“When I researched the character, I noticed that she originally had painted nails,” she shared (VOGUE JAPAN, December 26, 2024).
“I wanted to show her evolution. As a witch, and as a woman, I wanted to reflect her growth. Some people express themselves through makeup, but for me, it’s always been about nails. They are a tool of self-expression,” Erivo explained (VOGUE JAPAN, December 26, 2024).
At the Japan premiere event, held on February 19 at TOHO Cinemas Hibiya (Chiyoda Ward), Erivo expressed her joy at returning to Japan after five years and delivered her greeting in fluent Japanese:
“Arigatou gozaimasu (Thank you very much).”
We hope to see her back in Japan soon, perhaps on a musical theater stage.
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