Cynthia Erivo is officially a five-time Golden Globe nominee.
The British actress scored yet another best performance by an actress in a comedy or musical movie for her role as Elphaba Thropp in Jon M. Chu’s film adaptation of Wicked. She, along with her co-star Ariana Grande, boasts the rare feat of being nominated back-to-back for the same role — this year for her work in Wicked: For Good and last year in the film’s first installment, Wicked.
Erivo’s got the nomination news from rehearsals for her one-woman West End production of Dracula, where she’s set to play all 23 roles in the play. “This is a beautiful, beautiful surprise,” the 38-year-old tells The Hollywood Reporter on a call from London.
“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. I don’t think I’ve experienced anything like it,” Erivo says.
“To be nomianted twice with this movie is really special,” she says. “I think that’s a testament to the work of Jon Chu and every single other person who has touched this set — Ari[ana Grande] and Jonathan [Bailey] and Marc Platt, who is our wonderful producer. Everyone has done such beautiful work, and I feel very lucky to be a part of it.”
Erivo and the rest of the Wicked cast have been living in the world for years after a 160-day shoot. Chu and the cast shot both part one, released in November 2024, and part two, released this November, in one go, with the exception of the final 10 days of the shoot that were halted due to the strike and finished at the beginning of 2024. After the lengthy filming process came the lengthy press tour for Wicked that’s bled into press for Wicked: For Good.
The actress admits there’s plenty of emotion wrapped up in this final stretch of her Wicked journey, however, she notes it feels like the timing is right. “I think it’s time to be able to let it go, to give it away to the watchers, the audience,” she explains. “It’s never really going to leave our lives just because it’s been such a big part of our lives.”
Erivo notes that Wicked will always stick with her and be “part of the history” she has throughout her career, adding that she doesn’t feel like anything people do is ever gone if they’re putting their heart and soul into it. “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 says. “I don’t know, it doesn’t feel like a goodbye. More like a see you later.”
Erivo’s new song, “No Place Like Home,” was also nominated in the original song category, alongside her co-star Grande’s “The Girl in the Bubble.” Wicked stuck strictly to the stage musical, not including new songs, however, both the show’s original composer and lyricist, who also composed both new songs, and Chu have spoken in the past about how they were only adding new music when it felt warranted.
“It’s really beautiful that we both have these songs nominated and we’re nominated as well. It’s very special,” Erivo laments, adding she believes in these songs so much. “I think both of songs are extremely special, and they both lead to the characters’ journeys and what they’re both going through. Again, it’s Stephen Schwartz’s genius ,and the collaboration that we’ve all had to make these songs connect and hopefully they tell a wider story of who these women are.”
Monday’s nomination also made Erivo the first Black woman to be nominated twice in her category. “That’s a surreal thing,” she says. “When someone told me I started laughing [and] giggling because I didn’t realize. It’s all very surreal and wonderful and glorious and I’m very, very grateful for it all.”
As Erivo closes, at least in terms of the project itself, her Wicked chapter, there are things she hopes viewers will take away from the film and her beloved Elphaba. “She experiences joy and hurt and pain and grief, and in this second movie you get to dive into her feelings even more. You get to see how vulnerable she can become,” the actress explains. “When we see ‘No Good Deed’ I think people mistake sometimes a fire for power and confidence that actually is grief, loss, pain, hurt, doubt, all of those things, and surrender.”
Adds Erivo, “The opportunity to be able to share the breadth of humanity in a character is a rare thing, and that’s what this character has allowed for me to do, both physically and emotionally. I’m really proud of it.”
Golden Globes producer Dick Clark Productions is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Penske Media Corporation and Eldridge that also owns The Hollywood Reporter.