Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award-winning actress Cynthia Erivo knows what it feels like “to look different, to walk differently and to enter a space differently than anyone else.”
It’s one of the reasons she immediately recognized herself in Elphaba, the fiery and brave Wicked Witch of the West and protagonist from the famous novel and Broadway musical “Wicked.”
“When you play characters, you become one in the same even if you have nothing in common with the characters. Somehow, you find that wonderful kismet connection. But with Elphaba, it was really special because I understood her,” said Erivo, who will appear on the big screen this November as Elphaba in director John Chu’s newest film “Wicked.”
At the first Beyond the Conversation event of the fall semester, Erivo spoke to Cal State Fullerton students, faculty and staff about portraying the iconic green witch, the impact of representation and the magic behind staying true to one’s self. Hosted by Associated Students Inc. and the Division of Student Affairs, the purpose of the speaker series is to inspire further dialogue about diversity, equity and inclusion.
Erivo is the second Black woman in history to be cast as the unique character from Oz, following in the footsteps of Alexia Khadime, who was the first Black actress to play Elphaba in the West End production of “Wicked” in 2009.
Although Elphaba is green in the film, Erivo said she held tight to her personal experience “underneath the green” and used those emotions to create a character that viewers could see themselves in.
“I knew that there were so many people looking at this character as a beacon for their own difference, and specifically other young Black women who’ve seen themselves in this character,” said Erivo.
Her dedication to storytelling and representation has remained a staple throughout her career as she’s stepped into several iconic roles across theatre and film. She played American abolitionist Harriet Tubman in the 2019 film “Harriet,” Celie in the 2015-17 Broadway revival of “The Color Purple” and the Blue Fairy in Disney’s 2022 live action film “Pinocchio.”
For students aspiring to careers in entertainment, Erivo advised them to build a strong support network of family and friends, prioritize their mental health and trust that their path will take them where they’re meant to go.
“If you get a no in an audition, it just means that one wasn’t for you,” said Erivo. “The nos that you get are making room for the opportunities that are meant for you.”
She urged students to stay true to themselves — something she had to learn as a young actress growing in the industry.
“When you are you, and fully you, you allow other people to relax and enjoy the experience of what you bring at the table,” said Erivo. “There is no one else like you in the world.”
Seizing an Opportunity
Fourth-year ASI student programmer Kayla Lam has been working with ASI on the Beyond the Conversation speaker series since 2022. In that time, the series has welcomed an impressive lineup of speakers, including actors Danny Trejo, Ke Huy Quan, Tyler James Williams, Issa Rae, Hunter Schafer, Diane Guerrero and Daniel Dae Kim as well as Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps and New York Times journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones.
Throughout the series, Lam has been inspired by the different speakers and their stories. She set her sights on becoming a student interviewer and was honored to be selected to interview Erivo at the Sept. 26 event.
“It was one of those opportunities that I felt like I couldn’t pass up because it’s something that I’ve been wanting to do since I was hired here,” said Lam, a business administration-entertainment and hospitality management major.
Lam said she appreciated Erivo’s insight on the importance of staying optimistic in the face of adversity.
“Beyond the Conversation is not just about one type of person. It’s about bringing to campus a wide variety of people that students can learn from,” said Lam.