As a long-time theater enthusiast who has been captivated by the magic of Broadway since my youth, I can confidently say that Cynthia Erivo‘s transformation into Elphaba for the upcoming “Wicked” movie is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Having spent countless hours in makeup chairs myself for various productions, I can only imagine the dedication and resilience it takes to undergo such a laborious process day after day.
For her upcoming movie “Wicked” in 2024, Cynthia Erivo has a fresh challenge: portraying the green-skinned Witch of the West. While she’s playful about the transformation for one of today’s most popular musical adaptations, it seems like quite an ordeal to achieve this appearance.
In a recent chat with Vanity Fair, the star of “The Outsider” and her co-star from “Wicked”, Ariana Grande, discussed the demanding process of portraying the iconic character authentically on screen. The actress explained that creating Elphaba’s distinctive appearance was no easy feat, requiring painstaking efforts that often took hours, even for partial body transformations. In her words to the publication:
In a simplified scenario where we’re considering only the head, neck, and hands, it would take between two hours and 45 minutes up to three hours. However, if we’re talking about the entire body, that time extends to approximately four hours.
Besides dealing with the duration, selecting the perfect shade of green for the iconic figure’s complexion proved to be a painstaking endeavor. It demanded numerous “green tests” to ensure a flawless match, as elucidated by the actress from Widows.
Some green options didn’t quite fit the bill. We even tried some that seemed otherworldly, but they were just too unusual. As for the brown, it resembled skin texture instead.
Beyond applying makeup to her skin, Erivo additionally used color-tinted contact lenses, specific lipstick, and four distinct wigs to capture Elphaba’s iconic hairstyle. To deliver an authentic on-screen experience, Cynthia even shaved her head for the part, ensuring a flawless fit of the wigs. This enabled the makeup artists to directly paint onto her scalp, creating a smooth blend between the green makeup and the wigs.
Regardless of the strenuous and exhausting nature of it, the actress from ‘Bad Times at the El Royale’ kept her spirits lighthearted. She delightfully remembered the instance when she caught sight of herself without the wig for the very first time, commenting:
Green-scalp Cynthia. Like a little bald-headed green lady.
Despite finding amusement in her demanding makeup routine, Harriet’s determination to perfect her portrayal of Elphaba highlights her unwavering dedication to faithfully bringing the character to life for the upcoming movie adaptation. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Harriet and her co-star Ariana Grande, who plays Glinda, spoke candidly about their trials during filming, including the rigorous makeup sessions and the emotional heft of portraying their characters’ complex journeys.
Ever since Cynthia Erivo was cast as Elphaba, a character originally played by Broadway icon Idina Menzel, there’s been a whirlwind of anticipation among fans about the upcoming film adaptation. If you share my enthusiasm, the first look and trailer undeniably left us spellbound, showcasing the remarkable makeover and dedication that went into transforming Erivo. Given her impressive talent as seen in her role in “Genius,” it’s evident that she’ll captivate us all with her rendition of “Defying Gravity.” I can hardly wait—bring on the release date!
As a gaming enthusiast diving headfirst into a literary adventure, I’m eager to share that the upcoming film, “Wicked,” is more than just an on-screen rendition of the stage musical; it’s also a cinematic interpretation of Gregory Maguire’s original novel. To satiate our hunger for this captivating tale, it will be divided into two parts. The first installment graces the big screen this November 22nd, with the second part following suit a year later, comfortably nestled within the 2025 cinematic calendar.
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2024-10-02 20:37