Cynthia Erivo, who stars as Elphaba in the highly anticipated film Wicked: For Good set to release in November 2024, highlights the importance of maintaining her vocal health for the role. Erivo, renowned for her powerful and striking voice, prioritizes oral care to prepare for performances and ensure her breath control remains optimal during singing.
Erivo explained how her daily routine supports her vocal strength, especially brushing her teeth to open up her respiratory system. She stated,
“When I start the day, especially when I’m singing, brushing my teeth is really helpful,”
further adding,
“Doing my oral care…opens up my breathing. It opens up my respiratory system, strangely enough, and it sort of clears everything out, so I feel really open before I get on stage.”
This approach underscores how intertwined vocal performance and physical health are in her preparation.
She elaborated on the broader connection between breathing and oral health:
“Sometimes I think we think it’s just the sound you make. It’s actually your whole breathing system that works too. And when you can take care of your health and your mouth, and you can take care of your oral health, that also aids the way you breathe and so it then aids the way I sing.”
Oral Health and Personal Confidence: More than Just Voice Preparation
For Cynthia Erivo, caring for her oral health is not only critical for her vocal abilities but also vital to showcasing her confident, signature smile. She shares deep pride in her look, reflecting on the holistic nature of her self-care routine. Erivo details,
“I am really proud of the smile that I have. Yes, I get my nails done, we all know that, and yes, I get a massage and I love clothes, so I pick the pieces that I love and I take care of my skin and I shave my own head and all of that. None of that is complete without making sure that my oral health is also taken care of.”
Understanding that her smile is often the first impression she makes, she emphasizes its uniqueness, including her distinctive gap.
“I can’t not take care of that,”
she noted.
“I say it’s my signature, with the gap as well. [It’s] one of the things that makes me me.”
Adapting to Healthier Habits: Managing Sweet Cravings
While Cynthia admits to previously battling a strong sweet tooth, she now enjoys healthier snacking choices that support her oral and overall health. Her favorite snack currently is panda king nuts—peanuts coated in biscuit-like shells—which she finds delicious despite being uncertain of their nutritional benefits.
“It’s like peanuts coated in like I guess like biscuits, they’re just really tasty and I don’t know what nutritional value they have, but they taste great,”
she said.
“I take a little snack bag of them with me everywhere…It’s weird because I used to have a really terrible, terrible sweet tooth, it was like unbelievable and then one day just went away. I can’t even explain to you why or what happened. It just stopped and I’m glad for it.”
Despite this change, she was surprised to learn that others indulge their sweet tooth differently. When discussing her preference for a handful of chocolate chips, Cynthia reacted with surprise:
“That’s very unique, never heard that,”
she said.
“But I like that because it means that you can pick sparingly, you know, a little handful there. Nothing wrong with that. Just make sure you brush your teeth afterwards.”
The Role of Oral Care in Boosting Self-Confidence
Oral health contributes significantly to Cynthia Erivo’s self-esteem and presence, both on and off the stage. She shared,
“I think being able to take care of my mouth holistically is something that makes me confident in what I have, in that smile.”
For Erivo, self-confidence extends beyond physical appearance to embracing authenticity in her choices, especially in how she dresses and presents herself.
“I don’t put on anything that I don’t want to wear. Anything that doesn’t make me feel good, I’m not wearing,”
she said.
“That in itself means that I can step up with something that makes me feel confident immediately.”
Balancing a busy schedule, the actress has developed steady routines that help her maintain wellness and confidence. Brushing her teeth and following a thorough skincare regimen, particularly after flights, are essential rituals before stepping into the spotlight.
“I find that those routines that make you feel good. [They] should be the things that you keep doing, wherever you are. I find a way to make sure that I get to take care of myself before I even put on the fancy outfit. And so it’s everything that happens before the dress goes on. It’s everything that happens before the makeup goes on that actually influences how I feel once the dress is on,”
Erivo explained.
Balancing Physical and Mental Wellness on Set
Beyond physical care, Cynthia also prioritizes her mental and emotional well-being while filming, particularly amid the hectic environments like Vancouver where much of Wicked: For Good was shot. She revealed how daily walks along a scenic seafront provide a soothing backdrop for relaxation and reflection.
“What I have been doing daily is a walk,”
she shared.
“There’s a seafront that’s really beautiful, looks right out on the river and I’ve been doing that. And I always listen to an audio book, usually like a self help book or something. And I’ve been starting to practice meditation, which is not an easy thing, but I’ve been getting better and better at focusing in and meditating and taking the time to just sort of be, whilst moving through the day.”
Anticipating the Impact of Wicked: For Good and Praising Jonathan Bailey
Cynthia Erivo is eagerly preparing for the release and press cycle of Wicked: For Good, which promises to conclude the story introduced in the first film. Scheduled for theatrical release in November 2024, the movie has already generated excitement among theater enthusiasts and fantasy fans alike.
Erivo describes the film’s narrative as mature and emotionally resonant, highlighting the growth of her character Elphaba alongside Jonathan Bailey and Ariana Grande’s roles.
“This next film is sort of a conclusion to the story, [it] was really moving and deep and they’re mature in this,”
she said. Speaking warmly about Bailey, she added,
“They’ve really grown, all three of them have. Working with Johnny, I mean, he’s a dream. He’s such a sweetheart and so thoughtful, and I love the progression of their story, and where it goes and how we sort of found it for ourselves and what that has become.”
The actress also touched on the differences between the on-screen adaptation and the stage musical, signaling that fans can expect fresh perspectives this fall.
“It’s different from stage and I hope people love it just as much as I do,”
Cynthia expressed.
“Discovering how these two women have grown together and grown apart in ways, but had to rediscover each other was a really interesting, lovely sort of journey that they have to come to in their own time. And so myself and Ariana finding it together was really special. It was just a trip the whole way through, you know? There’s no one thing that was special because the whole thing was [a] massive journey.”
