Cynthia Erivo is looking back on her time as Elphaba in “Wicked: For Good” with gratitude, insight, and emotion. The Oscar-nominated actress recently opened up about the final scene in the highly anticipated sequel and how portraying the iconic character left a lasting impact on her.
Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers for “Wicked: For Good.”
Cynthia Erivo Reflects on Final ‘Wicked: For Good’ Scene
Speaking at the Elphabaâs Wicked Retreat Airbnb Originals Experience on Dec. 3, Erivo, 38, shared her thoughts on the touching final moments of the film, which serve as the conclusion to the two-part adaptation of the Broadway musical “Wicked.”
In the emotional ending, Elphaba fakes her own death by vanishing through a trap door. She later reappears, walking into the sunset with her love interest, Fiyero (played by Jonathan Bailey), who had been transformed into a straw figure as part of a protective spell. Before leaving Oz, Elphaba entrusts her magical book, the Grimmerie, to Glinda (Ariana Grande), who steps fully into her role as a leader. The two friends reconcile with a final reprise of âFor Good.â
Elphabaâs poignant farewell is underscored by the lyric, âJust look at me / Not with your eyes, with theirs.â
Reflecting on the line, Erivo explained why the moment resonated so deeply with her. “Two things are happening in that line. It’s both trying to help Glinda see what’s actually happening, but it’s also a comfort,” she said.
“I think she sees that her friend sees her one way,” she continued. “And I love between the lines when you can say something in a phrase, but so much more is going on.”
Erivo elaborated on the depth behind Elphabaâs request. “Look at me, look at me. Not with your eyes. Because she knows that Glinda will see something very different to what other people see,” she said. “And she has to remind her that what you see is not what everyone else sees. And you have to be okay with that as well because that’s the only way we can move forward.”
Cynthia Erivo Shares the Biggest Lesson She Learned as Elphaba
In addition to discussing the finale, Erivo shared a personal takeaway from her time as Elphaba during an interview with USA Today.
“That things aren’t always as they seem, that what you see isn’t always what you get, and that you can expect people to grow and change for better or for worse. And both are okay,” she said.
She described the experience of filming back-to-back movies as “a long ride” and said she has been deeply moved by the audience response.
“I’ve been really overwhelmed by just how supportive people have been and the dialogues that have been started because of it and conversations that have come up and how passionate everyone’s been and the difference in all of that,” she added.
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