Cynthia Erivo says people thought her casting in Wicked was a ‘woke hire’

Cynthia Erivo has said there were “conversations” about her being cast as a “woke hire” in her role as Elphaba in Wicked.

The British actress, 37, who recently scored a Golden Globe nomination for playing the green witch, said she has the “credentials” for the role and “had to audition, just like everybody else”.

The movie serves as a prequel to The Wizard Of Oz (1939) and explores the friendship between Glinda, played by Ariana Grande, and Elphaba before they become estranged, in the classic stories by L Frank Baum.

Speaking to Elle UK, Erivo 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. 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.”

Erivo said the film had made her want to “play more dark and mysterious people”, adding she felt a deep connection to her role in Wicked.

She said: “I was conscious that I didn’t want to erase the thing that I am underneath the green.

“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. 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.”

She described the physical preparation for the role of Elphaba as “one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, truly”.

She explained: “I did all my own stunts, the jumps, the flying. It looks simple, but 20 seconds on screen takes hours to do. So, I’m in a harness for hours, and it has to be extremely tight. Think about the word chafing.

“It sounds funny, but it’s the consistent rubbing of material, causing friction that removes skin, so you actually have a superficial burn in that area. And you’re experiencing it repetitively.

“You have to find ways to keep going. That was my life for a few months.”

The full interview can be read in the February issue of ELLE UK on sale from January 3.