Cynthia Erivo Reveals Ariana Grande's Concern Over Her Dracula Performance
Cynthia Erivo has shared intimate details about the "very, very worried" text messages she has been receiving from her Wicked co-star Ariana Grande. The acclaimed actress, 39, appeared on This Morning on Thursday to promote her one-woman production of Dracula, currently captivating audiences in London's prestigious West End.
Supportive Co-Stars and Family-Like Bond
When questioned about whether any of her Wicked colleagues had attended her performance—where she portrays a staggering 28 different characters—Cynthia confirmed their support. "Jeff came, Jonathan came. I think everyone's sort of like trickling in," she revealed. "I got some really beautiful messages, and Jonathan is constantly texting to make sure I'm okay."
She specifically highlighted Ariana Grande's persistent concern: "Ari is very, very worried that I'm not resting enough, so she's consistently texting." Cynthia also expressed deep affection for her co-stars, noting, "Jeff sent the most beautiful love letter, and he does. I love Jeff very, very much, and Jonathan... everyone's so lovely, it feels like we have a little bit of a family."
The friendship between Cynthia and Ariana, 32, has frequently captured public attention during promotions for Wicked parts one and two. Their bond was notably demonstrated when Cynthia physically protected Ariana from an overzealous fan who jumped onto a red carpet, an incident that went viral online.
Mastering 28 Characters and 20,000 Words
Addressing the inevitable question about how she memorises such an extensive role, Cynthia explained her meticulous approach to learning 23 distinct parts (with some characters having multiple roles). "I learn it in chunks," she told hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary. "What you have to do is learn it with a reason. So I have to know where [the characters] are and what they're doing and why they're saying things, and that's the only way I can commit it to memory. You learn it almost like a dancer."
To put the scale of this theatrical feat into perspective, the play consists of an astonishing 20,000 words, requiring immense concentration and stamina from the performer.
Marathon Training and Emotional Demands
Discussing her hectic schedule, the Wicked star revealed she strives to maximise every hour of the day. She is currently training to achieve a new personal best in the London Marathon, aiming to complete it in under three hours and 30 minutes. Interestingly, Cynthia finds that marathon training aids her line memorisation: "Whilst I'm running, I run the lines in my head. I'm trying to make good use of every moment."
However, Cynthia admitted the emotional and physical toll of her evening performances makes it challenging to unwind. "There's so much poured into it, emotionally, physically, mentally, everything is switched on," she confessed. "I don't switch off at all. Everything is on and everything is firing all the time so that when you come off, you go, where am I? Yeah, am I again? And so it takes a second to just put everything back together."
This intensity affects her sleep patterns, with Cynthia noting, "Yeah, it takes me a while to get to sleep. I don't get sleep until like, 1 am in the morning."
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.
