Absurd Reason Why Cynthia Erivo Cut Her Hair
- Cynthia Erivo is an award-winning actress with her powerful presence on screen.
- The actress decided to cut her hair off to make the makeup process easier for Wicked.
- She has been known to chop off all her hair in the past as well to truly be present in a scene.
The Tony and Grammy award winner for the Broadway revival of The Color Purple, Cynthia Erivo, is at it again. The actress is gearing up for the next role that will change her life as she transforms into a green-colored girl, Elphaba, who is often misunderstood.
The movie Wicked also features Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey. It has created a buzz surrounding the traditional storyline that the makers are modernizing to narrate the famous Wizard of Oz story. Erivo’s dedication to acting her part remains unquestionable, but one thing that she did proves she’s a cut above the rest.
Cynthia Erivo cut her hair for Wicked
Being painted green like a canvas every day to shoot scenes for Wicked was a demanding task for Cynthia Erivo. Even though the actress is no stranger to bold fashion choices, it was a whole other experience to sit through hours of makeup and painting just to be present in a scene.
Another aspect that took more time than they imagined was picking the right shade of green that complemented Erivo’s brown skin tone. Recounting the painstakingly lengthy process of makeup, Erivo shared with Vanity Fair,
Two hours and 45 minutes to three hours if it was just head, neck, hands. If it was the whole body, that was, like, four hours. Some greens really didn’t work. We had alien-esque ones that were just too far. On brown, it reads like skin.
Even the scalp had to be painted green since some areas where visible from beneath the long black cap as well. Claiming how she would love to do it all over again, Erivo further revealed that she shaved her head for the part to make the process more efficient. The courageous actress has no regrets!
Not the first time Cynthia Erivo flaunted a bald look
When Erivo was finishing her studies at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in 2010, she realized that she was using her hair to hide on the stage. To fully embrace her brave self, she cut her hair off and challenged her outside her comfort zone.
In 2023, she said in a candid interview with Shape,
I was doing it for such a long time. I remember saying to myself, I’d like to walk into a room and have people just see my face. [My hairdresser] would only cut some of it. So I left with a haircut that I didn’t want. I allowed [my hairdresser’s] fears or something she was projecting onto me to affect how I made my decision.
Erivo emphasized how powerful beauty can be when it emanates from within rather than what clothes you wear or how you style your hair. These days, she is glowing in her authenticity which further makes her a standout actor.
