Starring in the “Wicked” films has not only changed actor Cynthia Erivo for good — it’s also given her a chance to make history.
Erivo received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy, for her portrayal of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, in “Wicked: For Good.” She’s the first Black woman to be nominated in the category twice, following her nod last year for the first “Wicked” film.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, the actor and singer called the nomination “a beautiful, beautiful surprise.”
“It’s been a bit of a whirlwind from the beginning of the first film right through to this moment here. I don’t know that any experience is comparable,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve experienced anything like it.”
“To be nominated twice with this movie is really special ... Everyone has done such beautiful work, and I feel very lucky to be a part of it,” she added.
Erivo’s Golden Globe nomination for “Wicked: For Good” is her fifth nod overall. She received two nominations in 2020 — one for her portrayal of abolitionist Harriet Tubman in the biopic “Harriet,” as well as her original song from that film, “Stand Up.” In 2022, she was nominated for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television film for the National Geographic series “Genius: Aretha,” in which she portrayed soul music icon Aretha Franklin.
To win, Erivo will have to beat out her fellow nominees in that category: Rose Byrne, Kate Hudson, Chase Infiniti, Amanda Seyfried and Emma Stone.
Erivo’s “Wicked: For Good” co-star Ariana Grande also received her second nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture for her portrayal of Glinda in the film.
To many fans’ surprise, however, “Wicked: For Good” did not secure a nomination for Best Picture, Musical or Comedy, while its director, Jon M. Chu, was also left out in the cold.
The news comes as Erivo prepares to return to the London stage in a one-woman production of “Dracula,” in which she’s set to portray 23 roles. It’s rumored she’ll reprise the role of Jesus Christ in the musical “Jesus Christ Superstar,” which she first played this summer in Los Angeles alongside Adam Lambert.
Adapted from the smash Broadway musical, the two “Wicked” films have received widespread acclaim. In the wake of the films’ blockbuster success, writer Winnie Holzman and composer Stephen Schwartz confirmed they’ve met with Universal Pictures about possibly expanding the franchise, though nothing has been confirmed.
In her THR chat, Erivo said it was “time to be able to let it go, to give it away to the watchers, the audience,” though she hinted fans may not have seen the last of her as Elphaba.
“I don’t think I’ll ever forget the experience, and the most wonderful thing about it is that I’m in contact and will always be in contact with every single person who is a part of this journey,” she said. “I don’t know, it doesn’t feel like a goodbye. More like a see you later.”