Cynthia Erivo shaved head for her transformative role as Elphaba in Wicked: Part One, and she recently opened up about the powerful emotions behind that decision. Speaking at the Canva Create event at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on April 10, the Oscar-nominated actress reflected on what it felt like the first time she removed the green makeup and saw herself freshly bald.
“I remember feeling really exposed and vulnerable. With no hair, just me staring back in the mirror, I realized how much I liked it,” Erivo shared. “There was a kind of openness—just my eyes and face, nothing else to hide behind.” She added that the look made her feel more grounded and in tune with herself than ever before.
Cynthia Erivo Shaved Head Became a Bold Personal Choice
Before stepping into Elphaba’s iconic shoes, Erivo had already been experimenting with shorter hairstyles. “I used to get my hair braided in all kinds of colors—white and red braids were one of my favorites,” she recalled with a laugh.
But the turning point came during her time in drama school. “I had thick, long hair growing up,” she said. “As we were graduating, I just wanted people to see me—no distractions. That’s when I first thought about cutting it short.”
Her hairstylist at the time was hesitant, worried she’d regret the loss of length. “I went back two days later and chopped it all off,” Erivo said proudly. That experience paved the way for her now well-known look and made her more confident walking into auditions as her most authentic self.
Cynthia Erivo Shaved Head Helped Shape Elphaba’s Look
Creating Elphaba’s signature green look was a careful collaboration with hairstylist Sim Camps. “Sim and I first met on a project called Luther. She has this incredible eye for detail,” Erivo said. When Erivo mentioned wanting micro braids for Elphaba, Sim knew exactly what to do.
“She reached out to the wig maker who crafted one of my wigs over a decade ago. They designed it to look like it was growing right out of my scalp,” she explained. “We even dyed the lace a soft green, so it completely disappeared on camera.”
Erivo’s dedication to her characters runs deep. She explained that she dives into their essence—whether she likes them or not—to bring out authenticity. “If a role scares me, that’s a good sign,” she said. “It means I have something new to learn, some boundary to push.”
She’s also preparing to release her second studio album, I Forgive You, on June 6. “Whether it’s a role or a song, I ask myself—will this push me beyond my limits?”
Wicked: For Good, the sequel to Part One, is set to hit theaters on November 21.
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Source: www.people.com
