Cynthia Erivo has opened up about her journey of coming out as queer and the challenges she faced while embracing her identity.
Speaking on the Reign with Josh Smith podcast, the 37-year-old actress reflected on her fears and how getting past them has empowered her to live authentically.
“I feel very powerful. I feel very, very in my skin, in my body. And I love it,” she said. Erivo admitted that she initially felt “trepidation” about revealing her sexuality and worried she might “offend people.”
However, the response she has received has been overwhelmingly positive, especially from young queer individuals who look up to her.
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“There’s something really wonderful about watching someone who is just living, enjoying her life, working and creating”, Erivo stated.
Erivo first came out as bisexual in May 2022 during an interview with British Vogue.
Looking back, she revealed that she is “really proud” of how she shared her truth.
In the interview, she discussed how vital it is to reject the judgments of others and find strength through challenges. “If you’re willing to allow those hardships to grow you instead of shrink you, it keeps revealing different pages of who you are,” she said.
Erivo also talked about the deep conversations she has had with her Wicked co-stars Jonathan Bailey and Lena Waithe about queerness and identity while they worked on the much-anticipated musical adaptation.
Wicked star Cynthia Erivo talks about the power of dreaming big as a queer woman of colour in a world that loves to put limitations on people. Listen to the full chat on my podcast Reign here: #Wicked #WickedMovie #CynthiaErivo pic.twitter.com/oUKIksb53K
— Josh Smith (@joshsmithhosts) November 26, 2024
“Johnny and I had a really wonderful conversation about queerness and what that means for us,” she said, adding that Bailey is “so passionate about making sure there’s space for all of us.”
In ‘Wicked’, Erivo stars as Elphaba alongside Ariana Grande, who plays Glinda.
Both actors have been praised for their roles, although the project has sparked backlash online about the reported salary disparities.
In an alleged salary report, Cynthia Erivo was paid $1 million, while Ariana Grande earned $15 million for her role.
Despite the speculation, Erivo has remained focused on the joy of representation. “Hopefully you get to a place where you find yourself feeling comfortable enough to take that version of who you are into every room you walk into,” she said.
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The Wicked film, which also stars Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum, is slated for release in two parts, and the first is already making waves as one of the most anticipated adaptations of a Broadway classic.
