Cynthia Erivo shares how playing Elphaba 'helped me heal' after father's estrangement Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY November 17, 2025 at 11:27 PM 0 Cynthia Erivo's new book is as singular as she is. While many celebrity memoirs dutifully recount career highs and lows, "Simply More" (out Nov. 18) reads like a warm and galvanizing conversation between old friends.
- - Cynthia Erivo shares how playing Elphaba 'helped me heal' after father's estrangement
Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY November 17, 2025 at 11:27 PM
0
Cynthia Erivo's new book is as singular as she is.
While many celebrity memoirs dutifully recount career highs and lows, "Simply More" (out Nov. 18) reads like a warm and galvanizing conversation between old friends. Throughout the book, Erivo uses her life experience as a mirror for readers to reflect back themselves, asking questions such as: "Who are the people who have nurtured you?" and "What magic did you uncover at a young age?"
"I have always written in that way," says Erivo, 38, talking over Zoom on the eve of the Brazil premiere of "Wicked: For Good" (in theaters Nov. 21). The British actress aims to spark thoughtful discussion, and not get too hung up on formalities and platitudes.
"One of the first chapters I started writing was about my dad," which started as a list of realizations and "found its way into a poem," Erivo says. "In not wanting to limit myself in any way, that's naturally what happened."
Cynthia Erivo: The star had a 'witchy' way to get in character for 'Wicked: For Good'
Cynthia Erivo channeled the 'pain' of her father's abandonment into Elphaba
In her new book "Simply More," Cynthia Erivo says she has "no animosity" toward her estranged father.
In "Simply More," Erivo writes candidly about her decades-long estrangement from her father, who disowned her at 16 after an argument in a London train station. She reflects on the "strange stroke of irony" that they both can sing and have gaps in their front teeth, and says she's OK "with the fact we don't have a relationship. Because in truth, we don't need it."
Erivo also explains the deep connection she felt to "Wicked" heroine Elphaba, who similarly longed for her father's love and approval.
"Time and therapy have helped me heal that, for sure, but retracing steps through this character made it very clear that those were things I was trying to obtain," Erivo says. "Being able to use Elphaba to channel some of that pain was really a healthy thing and was very helpful to me. It crystallized what I'd been going through, and it was nice to find a place to put it all finally."
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The cover of Cynthia Erivo's new book, "Simply More."
In other emotional chapters, Erivo writes about her journey with queerness: the confusion and heartbreak that drove her to bury her sexuality as a teenager, and how she didn't date women until her late 20s. Erivo's mom and sister struggled with her coming out, and the singer says it's territory they're "still navigating." But she has learned to give them patience and grace while still being unapologetically herself.
"The time it took for me to get to a place where I could accept myself is also the time I have to give other people," Erivo says. "It's a new normal. They still love me and they want to be there for me. It's about giving them the space to get used to all the parts of me."
The 'Wicked: For Good' star brings 'dignity and hope' to every character
"We don't relinquish our dignity on purpose," says Cynthia Erivo, who won a Tony Award for her tour de force in "The Color Purple" on Broadway in 2016.
Throughout the book, Erivo recounts the blatant racism and stinging microaggressions she's encountered throughout her life. In one shocking instance at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, she was told to sing behind a curtain as her white classmates lip-synced to her voice. And when she starred as Celie in the musical "The Color Purple" in London, she recalls critics grumbling that the stage show "wasn't violent enough," and that her resilient character wasn't "gray" and "decrepit" after enduring years of abuse.
The show informed how Erivo approached all her characters going forward, including her Oscar-nominated turns as Harriet Tubman in "Harriet" and Elphaba in "Wicked."
Cynthia Erivo grins during curtain call on opening night of "The Color Purple" in New York.
"Because these women have been through such pain, the least I could do is imbue them with real dignity and hope," Erivo says. "Sometimes the people who have the most joy are the people who are going through the most, because that's all they have to hold on to. Celie was one of those characters that I truly believed was consistently seeking the bright moments out of life, because there weren't that many. Why wouldn't she laugh? Why wouldn't she take care of herself the way she could?
"It always baffled me that people wanted to see her downtrodden, when someone who's going through something is actively seeking ways to not feel that way."
Cynthia Erivo teases 'darkness' and 'sexuality' of her one-person 'Dracula' play"Wicked: For Good" sees Erivo and Grande reprise their Oscar-nominated roles of Elphaba and Glinda, respectively, in an adaptation of the second half of the Broadway musical. New cast members for the follow-up include Colman Domingo as the voice of the Cowardly Lion. As the cast brings the magic of Oz around the world, scroll through for the best photos from the "Wicked: For Good" red carpets so far, starting with Erivo and Grande at Cineworld London Leicester Square on Nov. 10, 2025, in London.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Thank goodness: The wait for "Wicked: For Good" is nearly over. The press tour for the highly anticipated musical sequel is officially underway after kicking off with stars Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey stepping out on the red carpet in Brazil on Nov. 4. Ariana Grande missed the Brazil premiere due to flight issues but caught up with the group in London for the Nov. 10 red carpet. "Wicked: For Good" sees Erivo and Grande reprise their Oscar-nominated roles of Elphaba and Glinda, respectively, in an adaptation of the second half of the Broadway musical. New cast members for the follow-up include Colman Domingo as the voice of the Cowardly Lion. As the cast brings the magic of Oz around the world, scroll through for the best photos from the "Wicked: For Good" red carpets so far, starting with Erivo and Grande at Cineworld London Leicester Square on Nov. 10, 2025, in London.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/cgMkW7P class=caas-img data-headline="'Wicked: For Good' premieres see Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, more stars stun" data-caption="
Thank goodness: The wait for "Wicked: For Good" is nearly over. The press tour for the highly anticipated musical sequel is officially underway after kicking off with stars Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey stepping out on the red carpet in Brazil on Nov. 4. Ariana Grande missed the Brazil premiere due to flight issues but caught up with the group in London for the Nov. 10 red carpet. "Wicked: For Good" sees Erivo and Grande reprise their Oscar-nominated roles of Elphaba and Glinda, respectively, in an adaptation of the second half of the Broadway musical. New cast members for the follow-up include Colman Domingo as the voice of the Cowardly Lion. As the cast brings the magic of Oz around the world, scroll through for the best photos from the "Wicked: For Good" red carpets so far, starting with Erivo and Grande at Cineworld London Leicester Square on Nov. 10, 2025, in London.
">Thank goodness: The wait for "Wicked: For Good" is nearly over. The press tour for the highly anticipated musical sequel is officially underway after kicking off with stars Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey stepping out on the red carpet in Brazil on Nov. 4. Ariana Grande missed the Brazil premiere due to flight issues but caught up with the group in London for the Nov. 10 red carpet. "Wicked: For Good" sees Erivo and Grande reprise their Oscar-nominated roles of Elphaba and Glinda, respectively, in an adaptation of the second half of the Broadway musical. New cast members for the follow-up include Colman Domingo as the voice of the Cowardly Lion. As the cast brings the magic of Oz around the world, scroll through for the best photos from the "Wicked: For Good" red carpets so far, starting with Erivo and Grande at Cineworld London Leicester Square on Nov. 10, 2025, in London.
" src=https://ift.tt/cgMkW7P class=caas-img>Ariana Grande attends the "Wicked: For Good" premiere at Universal Studio Singapore on Nov. 13, 2025, in Singapore.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/lxJKiQp class=caas-img data-headline="'Wicked: For Good' premieres see Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, more stars stun" data-caption="
Ariana Grande attends the "Wicked: For Good" premiere at Universal Studio Singapore on Nov. 13, 2025, in Singapore.
">Ariana Grande attends the "Wicked: For Good" premiere at Universal Studio Singapore on Nov. 13, 2025, in Singapore.
" src=https://ift.tt/lxJKiQp class=caas-img>Cynthia Erivo
" data-src=https://ift.tt/7BvHU80 class=caas-img data-headline="'Wicked: For Good' premieres see Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, more stars stun" data-caption="
Cynthia Erivo
">Cynthia Erivo
" src=https://ift.tt/7BvHU80 class=caas-img>Michelle Yeoh
" data-src=https://ift.tt/M89RuJh class=caas-img data-headline="'Wicked: For Good' premieres see Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, more stars stun" data-caption="
Michelle Yeoh
">Michelle Yeoh
" src=https://ift.tt/M89RuJh class=caas-img>Jeff Goldblum
" data-src=https://ift.tt/UwkGAnL class=caas-img data-headline="'Wicked: For Good' premieres see Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, more stars stun" data-caption="
Jeff Goldblum
">Jeff Goldblum
" src=https://ift.tt/UwkGAnL class=caas-img>From left, Michelle Yeoh, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jeff Goldblum and Jon M. Chu
" data-src=https://ift.tt/BTwDF7Q class=caas-img data-headline="'Wicked: For Good' premieres see Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, more stars stun" data-caption="
From left, Michelle Yeoh, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jeff Goldblum and Jon M. Chu
">From left, Michelle Yeoh, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jeff Goldblum and Jon M. Chu
" src=https://ift.tt/BTwDF7Q class=caas-img>Ariana Grande, left, and Cynthia Erivo
" data-src=https://ift.tt/utRWa8x class=caas-img data-headline="'Wicked: For Good' premieres see Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, more stars stun" data-caption="
Ariana Grande, left, and Cynthia Erivo
">Ariana Grande, left, and Cynthia Erivo
" src=https://ift.tt/utRWa8x class=caas-img>Ariana Grande attends the "Wicked: For Good" premiere at Cineworld London Leicester Square on Nov. 10, 2025, in London.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/ACDBkUR class=caas-img data-headline="'Wicked: For Good' premieres see Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, more stars stun" data-caption="
Ariana Grande attends the "Wicked: For Good" premiere at Cineworld London Leicester Square on Nov. 10, 2025, in London.
">Ariana Grande attends the "Wicked: For Good" premiere at Cineworld London Leicester Square on Nov. 10, 2025, in London.
" src=https://ift.tt/ACDBkUR class=caas-img>Cynthia Erivo
" data-src=https://ift.tt/5qomU6g class=caas-img data-headline="'Wicked: For Good' premieres see Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, more stars stun" data-caption="
Cynthia Erivo
">Cynthia Erivo
" src=https://ift.tt/5qomU6g class=caas-img>Ariana Grande
" data-src=https://ift.tt/Vjc2EgP class=caas-img data-headline="'Wicked: For Good' premieres see Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, more stars stun" data-caption="
Ariana Grande
">Ariana Grande
" src=https://ift.tt/Vjc2EgP class=caas-img>From left, Cynthia Erivo, Jon M. Chu and Ariana Grande
" data-src=https://ift.tt/C62Av8m class=caas-img data-headline="'Wicked: For Good' premieres see Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, more stars stun" data-caption="
From left, Cynthia Erivo, Jon M. Chu and Ariana Grande
">From left, Cynthia Erivo, Jon M. Chu and Ariana Grande
" src=https://ift.tt/C62Av8m class=caas-img>Ariana Grande
" data-src=https://ift.tt/98P7BrE class=caas-img data-headline="'Wicked: For Good' premieres see Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, more stars stun" data-caption="
Ariana Grande
">Ariana Grande
" src=https://ift.tt/98P7BrE class=caas-img>Cynthia Erivo
" data-src=https://ift.tt/2jUrG3t class=caas-img data-headline="'Wicked: For Good' premieres see Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, more stars stun" data-caption="
Cynthia Erivo
">Cynthia Erivo
" src=https://ift.tt/2jUrG3t class=caas-img>Jonathan Bailey
" data-src=https://ift.tt/uVAQWEG class=caas-img data-headline="'Wicked: For Good' premieres see Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, more stars stun" data-caption="
Jonathan Bailey
">Jonathan Bailey
" src=https://ift.tt/uVAQWEG class=caas-img>Jeff Goldblum
" data-src=https://ift.tt/Wr84bOi class=caas-img data-headline="'Wicked: For Good' premieres see Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, more stars stun" data-caption="
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">Jeff Goldblum
" src=https://ift.tt/Wr84bOi class=caas-img>Michelle Yeoh
" data-src=https://ift.tt/MCpBkOP class=caas-img data-headline="'Wicked: For Good' premieres see Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, more stars stun" data-caption="
Michelle Yeoh
">Michelle Yeoh
" src=https://ift.tt/MCpBkOP class=caas-img>Marissa Bode
" data-src=https://ift.tt/8NjXCmr class=caas-img data-headline="'Wicked: For Good' premieres see Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, more stars stun" data-caption="
Marissa Bode
">Marissa Bode
" src=https://ift.tt/8NjXCmr class=caas-img>Ethan Slater
" data-src=https://ift.tt/qhYfFyt class=caas-img data-headline="'Wicked: For Good' premieres see Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, more stars stun" data-caption="
Ethan Slater
">Ethan Slater
" src=https://ift.tt/qhYfFyt class=caas-img>Frankie Grande
" data-src=https://ift.tt/j8kRdxI class=caas-img data-headline="'Wicked: For Good' premieres see Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, more stars stun" data-caption="
Frankie Grande
">Frankie Grande
" src=https://ift.tt/j8kRdxI class=caas-img>Paul Tazewell
" data-src=https://ift.tt/LiXucG0 class=caas-img data-headline="'Wicked: For Good' premieres see Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, more stars stun" data-caption="
Paul Tazewell
">Paul Tazewell
" src=https://ift.tt/LiXucG0 class=caas-img>
1 / 20'Wicked: For Good' premieres see Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, more stars stun
Thank goodness: The wait for "Wicked: For Good" is nearly over. The press tour for the highly anticipated musical sequel is officially underway after kicking off with stars Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey stepping out on the red carpet in Brazil on Nov. 4. Ariana Grande missed the Brazil premiere due to flight issues but caught up with the group in London for the Nov. 10 red carpet. "Wicked: For Good" sees Erivo and Grande reprise their Oscar-nominated roles of Elphaba and Glinda, respectively, in an adaptation of the second half of the Broadway musical. New cast members for the follow-up include Colman Domingo as the voice of the Cowardly Lion. As the cast brings the magic of Oz around the world, scroll through for the best photos from the "Wicked: For Good" red carpets so far, starting with Erivo and Grande at Cineworld London Leicester Square on Nov. 10, 2025, in London.
Erivo has been circling the globe promoting "Wicked: For Good," which awards pundits are predicting will net her another Oscar nomination. The actress is already three-fourths of the way to EGOT status, with Emmy, Grammy and Tony wins for "The Color Purple."
Next up, she'll be starring in a film adaptation of Jodie Comer's Tony-winning play "Prima Facie," and leading her own one-woman production of "Dracula" in London, which begins performances in February. Erivo will inhabit 23 characters in the play, which is directed by Kip Williams ("The Picture of Dorian Gray").
"Kip and I have been having this wonderful conversation about desire and shame and darkness and what Dracula can actually represent," Erivo says. "Humans are ashamed to talk about sexuality and sex in general, and this is an opportunity where we can crack the doors wide open about what it does to people."
The show comes on the heels of Erivo's critically lauded performance as Jesus in "Jesus Christ Superstar" at Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl, which drew backlash from conservative commentators for casting a queer Black woman as the Messiah. With each new role ‒ from Elphaba to Jesus to Dracula ‒ Erivo hopes to change perceptions of who can play what characters, and make people rethink iconic figures.
She has no grand designs about what the future might hold, although "small clues" are popping up "in the conversations I'm having and the music that keeps playing," Erivo says. "Action, drama and romance are the things that keep showing themselves ‒ I feel like that might be the next step in my life."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cynthia Erivo channeled childhood pain into 'Wicked' and Elphaba
Source: "AOL Entertainment"
Source: Entertainment
Published: November 18, 2025 at 12:45AM on Source: MARIO MAG
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