Picture this: Cynthia Erivo, a real-life superhero, battling sleepless nights, intense workouts, and gravity itself, all in the name of Wicked. Someone give this woman a nap and a medal already.
The 37-year-old powerhouse spilled the tea—or maybe just a very strong coffee—on her grueling experience while chatting with Kristen Bell at the Academy Museum’s Ted Mann Theatre. Turns out, playing Elphaba isn’t all about singing defying gravity; it’s about defying the very concept of REM sleep.
Sleepless in Oz
Cynthia’s schedule on set? A masterclass in chaos. She barely clocked three hours of sleep a night. Why? Because she had plans. Plans that started with a two-hour workout before dawn. Yes, while most of us are still negotiating with our snooze buttons, Cynthia was out there strengthening her core to prepare for flying—because apparently, witches don’t skip ab day.
And then, it was time for the glam chair of doom, where she’d sit for two more hours of transformation into the iconic green-skinned sorceress. By the time her 5 a.m. call time rolled around, she was ready to take on the day. Or as ready as someone running on fumes and sheer determination can be.
Flying High, Powered by Core Strength and Sheer Will
Let’s talk about flying. It’s not just about hanging from wires and looking fabulous. According to Cynthia, you need abs of steel to avoid looking like a flailing marionette. “I have to get myself over and round without my legs just falling behind me,” she explained, which sounds both impressive and terrifying.
Her stunt coordinator, Jo McLaren, asked if Cynthia really wanted to do all her own stunts. “Yes,” Cynthia replied, probably because she’s the kind of person who hears the word “challenge” and immediately volunteers as tribute.
Living Like a Green-Skinned Monk
Cynthia described her Wicked lifestyle as “self-inflicted.” No late-night parties, no wine, no meat—just a lot of discipline and an infrared sauna blanket. Yes, while we’re snuggled under cozy comforters, Cynthia is burritoed in a high-tech gadget to soothe her internal bruises.
Oh, and therapy. Because apparently, battling witches, wires, and your own perfectionism takes a toll on the ol’ psyche. “I live a little bit like a monk,” she joked. Except instead of chanting, her daily mantra was probably something like, *“I will survive this loop-the-loop stunt.”*
Makeup Off, Adrenaline On
After a long day of soaring, singing, and scaring munchkins, you’d think Cynthia could just crash. Nope! First, there was the hour-and-a-half makeup removal marathon, which sounds more like an endurance sport than skincare.
Even then, Cynthia admitted winding down was a Herculean task. “No days were small,” she said, summing up the Wicked experience in six simple words that might as well be tattooed on her bicep.
So, next time you’re complaining about a busy day, just remember Cynthia Erivo, defying gravity, physics, and the human need for sleep—all while covered in green paint. Somebody send this woman a pillow, stat!
