Cynthia Erivo Reflects on Wicked’s Impactful Legacy and Fan Reactions

This weekend, Wicked: For Good flew into theaters, taking the box office by storm. The long-awaited adaptation of the Wicked Broadway musical, and the shortly-awaited sequel to the first film, stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, after defying the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum) and dedicating her life to freeing the Animals of Oz.

The film also features Ariana Grande as Glinda, Elphaba’s former best friend who caves to the Wizard’s propaganda when he offers her the power and love that she always wanted. These two are the beating heart of Wicked’s story, and as a result, fans have grown attached to their relationship and how the characters impact each other.

“Oh, the way in which people have connected with these characters,” Eriveo recently mused regarding the fan response to the films. “And the way I’ve connected with the people who made this even possible in the first place. […] I feel really grateful. This has been the ride of a lifetime.”

She then revealed a heartwarming interaction she had with young fan:

I was doing a talk last night, and this young girl sort of shot up out of her seat and walked up to the stage where I was talking, and… and she said “I want to tell you that this character’s changed my life, and it’s made me feel really confident, and I felt, you know, really scared sometimes…”

Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda in Wicked Movie

Erivo continued that “these stories that keep coming from people who have watched this piece” have had a profound impact on her. “To be a part of something that does that to people is… is a privilege,” she then stated. “And I think that’s the thing that will… will remain with me fifteen, twenty, twenty-five, thirty years from now.“

Beyond the connection playing Elphaba has given Erivo to her audience, the role “wasn’t just an adventure” but rather showed the actress how her performances can help people. She concluded: “Work like this can actually shift the way people feel, and think about themselves and others. And that’s really special.“

Celebrating For Good’s release, Erivo also took to Instagram to bid an emotional farewell to her time as Elphaba. “I could write you an essay, a poem, Shakespearean prose, to describe what this journey has meant to me, what lessons this time has taught me, bought me,” wrote Erivo. “I could try to give a metric to the love I have felt and experienced. I could give a number to the stories I have heard. The truth is the numbers are too small, and the words are not enough.”

The singer continued: “So I’ll simply say this. Take my hand and walk with me to the end of this road paved with gold and hopefully, the things that I’ve found, might find you too. Thank you for letting me be your Elphaba.“

While Elphaba’s story has been brought to its end, Erivo’s performance has changed fans for good. Moreover, songwriter Stephen Schwartz has cautiously teased that he isn’t quite done telling stories in Oz, meaning there may yet be more for Wicked fans.

WIcked: For Good is now playing in theaters.