The Magical Transformation of Elphaba’s Iconic Green Hue in ‘Wicked’

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Few individuals are recognized so distinctly by wearing a specific color that it earns a unique name – for example, Alice blue is one such shade, inspired by the light azure hue of the gowns often worn by former President Theodore Roosevelt’s eldest daughter. Now, actress Cynthia Erivo from Wicked has joined this exclusive group, as her character Elphaba’s unique skin tone in the Jon M. Chu adaptation of the Broadway play was given the name “Cynthia Green” by her Oscar-nominated makeup team.

Makeup artist Frances Hannon swiftly decided on a bright green hue that would suit Erivo’s skin tone during trial runs on models with similar complexions during pre-production. However, she faced a persistent issue: “The green didn’t look as beautiful in every type of light,” Hannon explains to The Hollywood Reporter. “It might appear lovely in the makeup mirror, but stepping outside into daylight would make it turn bluey purple, and then moving back into shade would cause it to lose its greenness entirely.

To manage lighting for a grand production like “Wicked”, which spans various settings such as Shiz University’s sunny campus, a dark enchanted forest, and the radiant Emerald City, altering the lighting for just one character, despite her being the film’s lead, wasn’t feasible. Hannon required a solution, and fortunately, it was a straightforward one: a touch of neon yellow, which SFX makeup artist David Stoneman, responsible for creating all the custom makeup for the film, blended into the base of the green color. “He gradually added it in and tested the right amount,” says Hannon, who is humble about the work that led to her second Academy Award nomination. In 2015, she won the Oscar for best makeup and hairstyling for “The Grand Budapest Hotel”.

Indeed, Cynthia’s beauty is simply captivating,” I find myself saying. “Her essence shines through, and her makeup accentuates that natural radiance. It seemed to highlight her cheekbones or any spot where light touched her, truly illuminating her – and astonishingly, it remained unaffected by her tears, sweat, and powerful singing.

The secret to the makeup’s lasting power was a unique green primer created by Stoneman, which was applied at the final stage of the regular two-hour-and-15-minute makeup routine every day. “We managed to reduce it to approximately one hour and 45 minutes, give or take, on some days,” Hannon boasts. Airbrushing was employed to apply the alcohol-based green makeup onto Erivo’s face, neck, and hands, a method that enhanced the lifelike look of the color on her skin.

As a gamer, I’d say, “Sometimes, the texture feels a bit smoother than usual, and there might be times when playing for long hours causes the paint to wear off slightly where my hat brim might rub against it.

Following this, the enjoyable specifics were addressed, such as the green contact lenses, the artificial ear caps to conceal Erivo’s piercings, and her freckles. “The freckles have been a common element in my films,” says Hannon. “They can make someone appear younger with a few freckles, then gradually fade them as they age, but Cynthia adored them so much that she kept them. It’s a sweet part of the story that was beautifully portrayed.

Since Erivo sports a shaved head in real life, the makeup team had to apply her eyebrows daily as well. Hannon, the makeup artist, utilized tattoo transfers and found that with the hair, hat, gown, and tie necks, the sticker-like product provided a realistic look. The eyebrows didn’t require a three-dimensional effect in this case.

The effort put into creating Elphaba’s appearance stands in stark contrast to the reserved character of Ariana Grande’s Glinda, who is known for advising others on how to become popular. However, Elphaba’s look plays a crucial role in her journey, transforming from a young girl who once yearned to be rid of her greenness to a woman who ultimately embraces her uniqueness as her greatest strength.

According to Hannon, Jon didn’t want Elphaba’s visuals to resemble her face – it wasn’t the narrative he was creating. However, both Jon and producer Marc Platt enjoyed experimenting with this concept.

According to Hannon, Erivo took a very hands-on approach when it came to her character’s appearance. He noted that Elphaba is a simple character with no vanity, and as she grows stronger, she becomes more free. Erivo brought her true feelings and desired look for the character every day, whether it was darker eyes, stronger lips, or a less/looser or tighter style. In other words, Hannon said that Erivo made Elphaba her own.

Originally published in a special, solo issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine in February, you can get this publication by clicking here to subscribe.

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2025-02-13 23:57