Cynthia Erivo reflects on emotional final moment in ‘Wicked: For Good’

Cynthia Erivo opened up about the emotional conclusion of Wicked: For Good.

During a heartfelt conversation at the Elphaba’s Wicked Retreat Airbnb Originals Experience on December 3, the 38-year-old actress reflected on Elphaba’s journey in the sequel to 2024’s Wicked.

In the final act, Elphaba fakes her own melting by slipping beneath a trap door. She and her lover, Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), are transformed into straw by an earlier protective spell after leaving Glinda (Ariana Grande) at their wedding and quietly departing Oz together.

Before leaving, Elphaba hands her Grimmerie spell book to Glinda, who has grown into her power. 

The two reconcile in a tender reprise of “For Good,” where Elphaba delivers the touching line, "Just look at me / Not with your eyes, with theirs."

Speaking about the intimacy of that moment, Erivo shared, "Two things are happening in that line. It's both trying to help Glinda see what's actually happening, but it's also a comfort."

The British star explained that Elphaba understands how Glinda truly sees her, adding, "I love between the lines when you can say something in a phrase, but so much more is going on."

She continued, "Look at me, look at me. Not with your eyes. Because she knows that Glinda will see something very different to what other people see... that's the only way we can move forward."

Cynthia Erivo added that she cherishes the line because "it's something that Elphaba has to record too."

The film ends with a nostalgic flashback to Elphaba and Glinda in their college days, sitting in a poppy field as Glinda leans over to whisper in her friend’s ear, a visual homage to the iconic Wicked logo.