Cynthia Erivo on Directing Ambitions and Dangers of ‘Wicked’ Cyber-Bullying: ‘It’s Easy’ to ‘Type Words About a Person You Don’t Know Anything About’

As a follower who has always admired the resilience and versatility of artists, I am truly inspired by Cynthia Erivo. Her ambition to step behind the camera and follow in Barbra Streisand’s footsteps is a testament to her fearlessness and drive. It’s not every day we witness someone as talented as Cynthia aiming for greatness, and I can’t wait to see what she will accomplish next.

Following the phenomenal worldwide success of Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked,” I, Cynthia Erivo, find myself pondering the future and what lies ahead, with the possibility of venturing behind the camera not far from my thoughts. Recently at the Red Sea Film Festival, I shared my aspirations and mentioned Barbra Streisand as a significant source of inspiration for me in both her singing and acting prowess. What particularly captivates me is how Barbra transformed her career by stepping into the director’s chair, a path that I am inclined towards emulating.

Discussing the relentless online harassment faced by co-star Ariana Grande, the actor expressed concern about the potential danger of cyberbullying and noted that it’s simple to type hurtful words about someone you don’t really know. To combat this, her strategy is to serve as a positive influence: “Be the one who shares good stories instead. What others think of you, especially those who have never met you, should not outweigh your own self-perception.

Erivo enthusiastically discussed her time working on “Wicked,” expressing that it’s truly remarkable when a dream comes true, but even more so when it happens alongside people you cherish. She added that the experience was exceptionally meaningful because it allowed her to realize a long-held dream with loved ones by her side.

She added, “The green symbolizes every individual who has ever felt marginalized.” She went on to explain, “As a Black woman, I often enter spaces that may not be entirely accepting. It was crucial for me to convey that aspect of my experience, and fortunately, I had a director who supported me in doing so. The tears you see in the scene where [Elphaba] is told the green is an issue? Those were genuine. I can’t tell this story without expressing those feelings, as they stem from my personal understanding of what it’s like to feel excluded.

The actor portraying “Harriet” mentioned that playing “Elphaba” is complex due to the need to showcase her vulnerability and humanity, as she’s often overshadowed by her green appearance. He explained, “One must look beyond the green to truly see her as a person, with pain in her eyes and feelings of hurt in her heart. For me, Elphaba was a unique challenge – one of humanizing her and even making the green part of her character relatable. She is a particularly significant character to me.

Regarding the complexities of filming the song “Defying Gravity,” the actress discussed the difficulties she encountered during one of the movie’s key musical scenes. She explained, “It’s a total ascent; there’s no stopping or coming back.” The challenging aspect of “Defying Gravity” was that I was suspended on a harness, leaving me with no solid ground beneath me. To produce the powerful sounds, I had to locate where the sound should originate and imagine a ground surface to push against, using my imagination as if it were real. Since I was wearing a corset, I couldn’t use my diaphragm, so I substituted breath support and utilized this imaginary ground to generate the sounds.

The actress spoke about recognizing that “Wicked” was extraordinary, yet she could not foresee the current events surrounding this movie. Surpassing expectations, the musical raked in an astounding $118.2 million during its debut week at the US box office over Thanksgiving weekend. The actress also commented, “It’s not always the case that film adaptations resonate, but witnessing audiences connect with it is truly remarkable.

Erivo shared about her friendship with Grande, stating that once they were chosen for the part, they made a commitment to look out for each other. They treated one another with kindness, worked honestly, and established a bond based on this mutual respect. They offered each other the necessary space, compassion, and generosity needed to portray these roles effectively.

She continued, ‘Our voices blend beautifully, and when we perform together in a musical, there’s a unique connection that develops. It’s as if we can sense how each other works. Singing together is incredibly intimate and has deepened our relationship. We listened attentively to what the other could contribute, and it was a truly special experience.’

The actor doesn’t often feel Elphaba-like jealousy, she explained. “I don’t usually feel jealous in real life as I believe everyone has their own things, and I have mine. Jealousy is a natural feeling, but over time, I’ve learned not to harbor it because we each receive what we are meant to.

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2024-12-06 15:16