CYNTHIA Erivo’s rise to prominence is a testament to the power of authenticity, resilience, and breaking through barriers. Recognised by Ebony Magazine as one of their Pathbreakers of the Year, the actor, singer, and activist shared the deep significance of the recognition.
“It means a great deal. It means that you veer away from the ordinary path that is usually set by others, and you can create something of your own,” she told Ebony. “It’s really cool that a path, hopefully, is stretching out behind me for other people to walk, and I’m giving them a different way to walk it.”
Erivo has long been a champion for those who feel othered, embracing her identity as a queer Black woman and using her platform to uplift marginalised voices. Her latest role as Elphaba in the highly anticipated movie musical Wicked showcases this personal connection to the character—Elphaba, the "wicked" witch of the story, is shunned by society because of her green skin.
"I walk through life knowing that I’m the odd one now. I think I always have been. And instead of running away from it, I ran headlong into it," Erivo reflected. "I think denying the differences, if we can call it that of me, or denying the oddity, doesn’t give space to how much creativity and how much I can give to the world."
Erivo’s unique perspective is evident in her portrayal of Elphaba, whose physical appearance and journey mirror her own experiences with feeling othered. "Just because of how I walk through the world as a queer Black woman, in this skin, there is an intrinsic knowledge of what that feels like to be the other and not necessarily the norm."
One standout detail in Erivo’s portrayal of Elphaba is the character’s hairstyle—Elphaba wears her hair in braids, a decision that Erivo considers a personal tribute to Black women.
“I wanted it to be a bit of a nod and love story to Black women because that is what I am. And it’s such a recognizable thing for us; I don’t even think it was a thought for me. I knew immediately that that’s what I wanted to do,” she explained. "When it came to [Elphaba’s] styling, [director] Jon M. Chu and [producer] Marc Platt, they just went with me. They really gave me the space to express who I wanted her to be on screen.”
As Erivo continues to break barriers in both her acting and advocacy work, the prospect of winning an Oscar and joining the coveted EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) club is not far from her mind. When asked what it would mean if she were to win an Oscar, she responded, "It would mean everything because there are very few people who have it. If that happens, who knows? It just means that the world opens up a little bit more, and I can be more adventurous with the roles I pick and do more, create more and play more."
She added, “I love the work that I do. And if it makes it easier to make the work varied and more adventurous, I think it’d be wonderful, and I’d be extremely grateful."
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