Cynthia Erivo talks about her ‘Wicked’ character’s micro braids, long nails and subtle nuances of black

Over the past few weeks, “Wicked” has actually had the “Barbie” effect, taking control of what seems almost… In a sea of ​​pink and green gadgets and gravity-defying musical riffs, Elphaba’s portrayal in Cynthia Erivo’s latest adaptation of the musical shines a singular light on black women and their experiences on the planet.

During an appearance on the Red Sea Film Festival, the Oscar-nominated actress reflected on Elphaba’s intentional portrayal as a black woman.

“Green stands for every person who feels different,” Erivo said. for a change. “There’s a layer of who I am underneath, and Black women are stepping into spaces that aren’t necessarily welcoming. It was important to tell that story and have it as a layer.”

“I didn’t want to remove myself from Elphaba” – Erivo he previously told the publication. “I wanted to combine the two.”

According to the “Wicked” actress, one of the primary things she asked for when considering her character’s look was so as to add braids and nails. Not wanting Elphaba’s classic green complexion to remove from her blackness, Erivo said she very consciously assumed Elphaba would have micro braids.

“The way we put it together, it’s a really sweet love song,” Erivo explained during an appearance on CultureCon. “I asked for these micro braids… It was an actual discussion… it was the very first thing I knew what I wanted for her. I believed, “I don’t want long braids.” I would like micro braids because they’re very special and there’s a bunch (of viewers) who recognize them immediately.

Elphaba’s micro braids allowed the actress to honor the character’s classic long black hair while also honoring the culture. Erivo says she and her stylist intentionally took care of the smallest details of the hairstyle, from the curled edges to 1B’s “natural black” hair color (for those who know, you already know).

“I needed it to be related to me as a black woman. I wanted to show how versatile braids can be and how much fun you can have with them.” she added.

Additionally, Erivo made sure that her heroine had a full set of intricately designed nails that: Black woman actually made. While her nails reflected the sweetness practices she employs in her life, Erivo revealed that Elphaba’s nails were equally inspired by Margaret Hamilton’s 1939 performance of “The Wicked Witch”. in the primary film adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz”, whose heroine also had long claw-like nails.

“I knew the history of nails was so complex and complicated, but it was deeply, inextricably linked to (black women),” Erivo said, explaining her selection of manicure. “(But) it was placed on other people. And only when it’s on other people’s bodies (it’s) considered fashionable or elegant, but when it’s on us, it’s something completely different.

Erivo understood the powerful message of having “a green girl with micro braids and a full ensemble” at the middle of such a big production, saying she felt responsible not just for the character, but additionally for anyone who happens to seem in her role.

“That scene when (Elphaba) finds out the green is a problem? These tears were real. It comes from my understanding of what it feels like,” Erivo said, explaining her deep connection to the character. “Elphaba is a challenging character because you want to make sure that people see her sensitivity and her humanity… With Elphaba, I had a beautiful challenge of humanizing her and even the greenery in which she lives. He is a special character to me.”