Wicked's Cynthia Erivo Emotional Interview: Coming Out Queer, Jonathan Bailey & Singing With Ariana

As Cynthia Erivo stars as Elphaba in the 'Wicked' movie alongside Ariana Grande, the Oscar nominee and Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award winner comes to the 'Reign' studio and shares new details about the 'Wicked' audition process, the moment she truly bonded with her 'Wicked' co-star Ariana Grande after they first sung together and the loneliness she experiences as an outsider. Cynthia also talks movingly about her queer identity, the trepidation she feels about saying she's queer and the incredible life changing conversation she had with Jonathan Bailey about queerness. Else where in the episode Cynthia also reveals she quit singing to pursue becoming a spinal surgeon (thank god Cynthia's Mother intervened!) and that she was accepted to do a PHD at Harvard (is there anything Cynthia can't do?!?)! Listen to the full chat on Reign with Josh Smith here: http://hyperurl.co/i4yxt0

#cynthiaerivo #wicked #wickedmovie

Chapters & Topics:
0:00 Intro
01:00 Wicked Movie & Meeting Elphaba
02:02 Wicked Audition
02:37 Getting the role on Wicked Zoom aftermath
03:35 Playing Elphaba & building the character
04.18 Playing by her own rules & West End auditions
05:42 Being authentic & cutting hair
06:26 Growing up
07:25 Almost becoming a spinal surgeon & stopping singing
08:29 Loneliness & being an outsider
10:43 Inner voice
11:16 Ariana Grande changing her life
12:05 Relationship with Oprah Winfrey & Advice
14:37 Singing with Ariana Grande for first time
15:27 Intimate conversations with Ariana Grande
16:34 Checking in with Ariana Grande after SNL hosting
17:37 Jonathan Bailey relationship & conversations
18:40 Being queer
20:14 Feeling seen
21:53 The power of dreaming big
24:13 Working in UK & West End
24:54 Starring in 'The Color Purple'
27:10 'Big knocks' and 'Rejections'

I am so excited to share this bumper episode of 'Reign' and this incredible Cynthia Erivo interview so get comfortable and buckle up on your broom.

In case you've been MIA in OZ visiting the Wizard or something and missed it Cynthia is currently playing Elphaba in the movie adaptation of the mega musical hit, 'Wicked' alongside Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum and directed by Jon M. Chu.

You might also know Cynthia for her Tony, Emmy and Grammy award winning performance in 'The Colour Purple' which she starred in on Broadway and London's West End and her Oscar nominated performance in 'Harriet' playing the racial freedom fighter, Harriet Tubman. Cynthia also scored another Oscar nomination for Best Song for 'Stand Up,' and this came after roles in movies, 'Luther', 'Bad Times at The El Royale' and 'Widows.'

We cover SO much in this episode: her 'Wicked' movie journey from auditioning to singing 'Defying Gravity' for the first time, the life lessons she’s learnt from Oprah and Ariana Grande, feeling like an outsider, loneliness, how she almost became a spinal surgeon and so much more.

There are SO many powerful moments in this episode - but it’s the bits about embracing queer identity and the power of dreaming big that really made me tear up.

I hope this episode inspires you to defy gravity and dream big and if you love the episode, I always love hearing from you! You can find me across socials @joshsmithhosts Love, Josh xx P.S I am also up for having LENGTHLY discussions about how incredible the 'Wicked' movie is, too.

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