Award-winning actress Cynthia Erivo, known for her powerful performances in films like Harriet and now the highly anticipated movie musical Wicked, has been openly discussing her decision to shave her head.
Erivo, who plays the iconic green-skinned character Elphaba in Wicked, revealed that her drastic hair change was entirely for the role.
In a November 2024 interview with Vanity Fair, she explained that shaving her head and even her eyebrows helped ensure her elaborate green makeup looked flawless.
The extensive makeup application, which could take up to four hours, benefited from a completely smooth surface.
“Green-scalp Cynthia. Like a little bald-headed green lady,” she jokingly called herself, adding that she’d “love to do that again.”
In December 2024, Erivo also addressed critics of her bald look in Elle UK, stating, “Why does it bother you so much that I don’t want to wander around with blonde tresses? I like my bald head. There’s nothing wrong with my hair – it grows in very fast. I just like my face.”
‘Wicked: For Good’ Set for 2025 Release
Fans eager to see more of Erivo as Elphaba will have to wait until November 21, 2025, for the release of Wicked: For Good. This second part of the movie musical will hit theaters just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday.
The first official trailer for Wicked: For Good was released on June 4 2025, teasing the emotional journey of Elphaba and Glinda as their friendship is tested and they embrace their destinies as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch of the North. The film promises to show how their choices will change the Land of Oz forever.
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