Cynthia Erivo believes art is always political ahead of ‘Wicked’ release

English actress discusses taking up controversial roles and viral holding space moment with Ariana Grande

By The News Digital
November 13, 2025
Cynthia Erivo believes art is always political ahead of ‘Wicked’ release
Cynthia Erivo believes art is always political ahead of ‘Wicked’ release

Cynthia Erivo has recently opened up about the connection between art and politics ahead of Wicked: For Good release tomorrow.

The English actress believes art is always political, saying, “I'm interested in human stories.”

Cynthia notes that everything is political, explaining, “We really, truly believe it's black and white, and it's just not.”

“I think inevitably, because I’m in this body with this skin, in this time, everything I do will be political,” mentions the 38-year-old in a new interview with GQ Magazine.

The Harriet actress also reveals that she’s been “told so many times” that she selects “controversial roles”.

“I'm like, ‘Why? Why are the roles I pick controversial?’ It's not like I set out to go, ‘Oh, what's controversial in that?’” points out Cynthia.

The Pinocchio star opens up that she “just picks a thing that I feel like I want”.

“If I was a different person, in a different body, in a different skin, it wouldn’t be controversial,” states the actress.

Elsewhere in the interview, Cynthia has addressed viral “holding space” interview with ‘Wicked’ costar Ariana Grande.

Earlier, both stars were seen talking about Wicked: Part One's closing track, Defying Gravity, with journalist Tracy E. Gilchrist for Out Magazine, who claimed fans were “taking the lyrics and 'really holding space with that”.

In the clip, Cynthia put a hand over her chest while looking shocked and replied, “I didn't know that was happening. That's really powerful. That's what I wanted.”

Now, speaking to the outlet, the actress clarifies that it was “purely an innocent moment of confusion and human reaction”.

“I received one thing, Ariana received another, and Tracy [the journalist] said something but probably meant to say something else, and then took back the thing that she was saying – it was all so confusing,” she continues.

Cynthia adds, “So that all of us were, in the end, confused but… moved. It was very strange.”