One of the more nefarious implications is that Cynthia Erivo landed the role of Elphaba because she is Black. You know, Grammy, Emmy, and Tony winner Cynthia Erivo. Who has had an extensive career on stage and screen.
In a new interview with Elle UK, Cynthia said, “There have definitely been conversations about me getting this role as a ‘woke hire.'”
“I had to audition, just like everybody else. And I’m glad I had to do that,” she added. “I have the credentials for it. I’ve done the work. But I’m glad they got to be sure about the choice. It allows me to take this, and to know that I had to work really hard for it.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Cynthia spoke about opting for practical makeup for the role. “I was conscious that I didn’t want to erase the thing that I am underneath the green,” she explained. “For me, it was about using my own experience as the ‘other,’ as someone who exists in that way. So, that’s partially the reason why Elphaba has braids, as opposed to straight hair. It’s the reason why she has long nails.”
“I think, because Elphaba’s otherness is about the colour of her skin, I immediately feel connected to it as a Black woman,” she continued. “The beauty is that it connects with anyone who feels like they’re the other – whether they are Black, whether they are queer, or whether they are just… different.”
You can read the full interview here.
