Cynthia Erivo reveals her ‘pact’ with Ariana Grande in a memoir

Cynthia Erivo she was always meant to play elphaba inside – Ms.

The 38-year-old actor reflected on his long history with music in a new book Too much: a book for anyone who has been told they are too muchwho was released on Tuesday, November 18.

“I saw – Ms He wrote: “It is written.”– Ms it was scary and saw him. I had sung music for years, and now all the shows – lights, music, voices, objects – happening before my eyes, filling my everything. “

Despite his experience seeing this show, Erivo did not see himself doing the role of ELPPABA.

“I didn’t dream of dreaming, and that’s for one simple reason. I had never seen someone like me in that role,” he wrote. “My brain wasn’t making the connection that something like that would ever happen. It’s hard to be what we can’t see. Even if it was very important, it did.

Erivo, of course, continued to play Elphaba in the – Ms Movie Transformation – The first part hit the theaters last year, the second set to be released on Friday, November 21.

During his book, Erivo explained the process of becoming ElPhaba and his friendship with religious people Ariana Grande he was for life.

Continue scrolling for a larger version of Erivo – Ms revelations from A lot:

How it started

When he was in school at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Erivo recalled the feeling of being “outed.” But he met a friend who could play the piano and they would do “one song, from another show, over and over again – hopefully about hope.”

His connection to Elphaba

Erivo felt a “deep connection” to the character after seeing it – Ms on stage for the first time.

“I saw in his nature a different person. I was always able to see other outsiders like me, and I got that right away,” the singer wrote. “We had a deep sense of kinship. More, later, I came to see similarities between us, but I didn’t make that connection at the time.”

A ‘bad’ movie review

When he heard the sinking that there was – Ms Movie in the works, Erivo told his team “not” to share details.

“Don’t tell me anything unless it looks like it might be my way,” he told them. “Deep down, I knew I would have liked to be part of the film. But if I didn’t pay attention to what was happening, maybe I would be able to protect myself from getting hurt if the part didn’t come my way.”

He met – Ms director John M. Chu At the event, they also discussed the movie without the “pressure” involved. After that, Erivo got tested.

“I showed no frills, just me in a T-shirt and jeans, nice sneakers – or was it a pair of flats?” He remembered. “I wore a red hooded cardigan because it was soft and cozy and I wanted to feel free. When I’m free in my body, I can renew my creativity.”

Erivo told his “connection” to Elpabha before singing “defying gravity.” Obviously, he got the role.

Friendship with Ariana Grande

Erivo and Gande (who play Ginda in – Ms Movie) made a “covenant” to protect anything.

“We often hear that women’s slogans – or indeed, any slogans – can sometimes be allowed by their egos to interfere, destroying the creative process,” she wrote. “We were willing to do the opposite. To be the opposite. To build each other’s strength, to encourage the other, to see that, to see, like our words, we can be more than the sum of our parts.”

Erivo noted that he and Gande “work in tandem” on set.

He added: “Our collaboration was important. We shared a strong authenticity, a commitment to authenticity, and that, combined with the natural connection we both endured and allowed us to support each other emotionally and technically.”

Their bad run is almost over, but Erivo and Gande still talk or text almost every day. “

Role play

Flying as elphaba became part of the “worst” role. Erivo will leave “injury.” He even got a “some bloody nose” and broke some nails.

He wrote: “Chafing: It sounds funny until you get it. “Actually what happened was that the harness was applied to my skin so hard and for so long, that the skin on my waist started to burn.”

It was “a lot of fun and a lot of fun” even though it was a lot of work. Elphaba’s costume and her harnesses for flying were “a great pain to get out of,” so she often went 12 to 14 hours without showering.

“All day long, people were asking if I needed the bathroom,” she said. “I wouldn’t do it. I wasn’t kidding.”