Cynthia Erivo shares how she incorporated micro braids into her “Wicked” character to pay tribute to Black women. 

Erivo wanted a hairstyle that more accurately reflected her character being portrayed by a Black woman.

Cynthia Erivo shared why she gave her Wicked character micro braids, using the hairstyle to honor Black women.

Erivo portrays Elphaba Thorpe, who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West, in this retelling of The Wizard of Oz. The film centers on her character and her bond with Glinda, the future Good Witch, played by Ariana Grande. However, Erivo made intentional stylistic choices to make her character feel more grounded in real life.

In Wicked, Elphaba experiences discrimination throughout her life because of her skin color. As a Black woman, Erivo wanted her portrayal to reflect both her personal identity and the character’s journey. With this in mind, she decided to change Elphaba’s traditional long, black, wavy hairstyle to one that more closely aligns with her own identity.

Erivo chose to honor Black women by selecting micro braids for Elphaba. She felt that braids would maintain the character’s typical hairstyle while adding a unique texture. “I asked if we could reimagine that hair as micro braids because it would still have the movement and length, but with a texture that’s slightly different from what’s usually seen on stage, creating a direct connection between me as a Black woman and Elphaba as a green woman,” the near-EGOT winning actress shared with Variety.

Erivo is the second Black woman to portray Elphaba since the musical’s major debut in 2023, with the 2024 film adaptation being the first to hit theaters. The 37-year-old has previously discussed the significance of this role for herself and other Black women. In a letter to Variety, she described the film and Elphaba’s journey as a “love letter” to those who have ever felt unwelcome.

“I hope it’s a love letter to everyone who feels different or out of place, to all the Black women who’ve walked into rooms and felt unwelcome,” Erivo wrote in November. “To anyone who’s ever felt that way, I’m honored to bring this character to life.”

Since then, Erivo has received widespread acclaim for her performance, including a Golden Globe nomination.