People love a movie press tour when the actors get into a bit of method dressing, and the cast of Wicked has been taking notes. From Ariana Grande’s pastel and iridescent gowns to Jonathan Bailey’s ruby slippers, the stars of the musical adaptation have given us look after look, reference after reference.
But Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba, has gone the extra mile. From red carpets to talk shows, she has glued long, coffin-shaped nails everywhere she goes. She always adorns her nails with emerald embellishments and jewels that complete her already fantastic outfits. Erivo, who has always had a penchant for elaborate nail art, has credited the talented nail artist Shea Osei, as well as 20-year-old L.A. nail tech Mycah Dior for creating the three-dimensional pieces that have become synonymous with her fashion. And Erivo has continued to showcase the collaboration and pure fun that nail art brings, so in honour of Wicked: For Good’s November release, here are some of Cynthia Erivo’s most glamorous nail moments.
Paris Olympics
Erivo teases the first installment of Wicked at the Paris Olympics in 2024 with long, green nails with a tiger stripe pattern. Some of her nails are bejewelled with diamonds in the shape of flowers, which accentuate her floral rings and pairs well with the custom emerald gown by Louis Vuitton.
CFDA Fashion Awards
Erivo went for a gothic look at the CFDA Fashion Awards in October 2024, and of course her nails had to match. Her nails were in alternating mint green, blood red and black, with intricate designs including crosses, snakeskin and flames.
Wicked Los Angeles Premiere
November 9, 2024 attends the Los Angeles premiere of "Wicked" in Louis Vuitton
Photo: Phillip Faraone/WireImage
Erivo and her nail tech Mycah Dior upped their game for the Wicked premiere in Los Angeles in November 2024, with each nail decorated with different designs. Her nails were green, black and white, with each bedazzled with different jewels. It undoubtedly reflected the thunder of camera flashes back at photographers.
Sundance Film Festival
Erivo gets flirtatious with her nails at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival gala fundraiser. With a softer green and nude colour palette, Osei added flair to her French tip nails by adding beads and sea glass, which stole the spotlight from Erivo’s casual black ensemble.
Oscars
The 97th Oscars were important for Erivo, as it was the second time she was nominated for Best Actress. For the awards ceremony, she once again went for Louis Vuitton with a green velvet gown. To complement the dress, she donned emerald nails with golden foil and crystal bars, possibly a nod to the Emerald City in Oz.
Met Gala
The dress code for the 2025 Met Gala was “Tailored for You”, and Erivo made sure to follow the dress code, down to her nails. She wore a slashed, contoured Givenchy corset lavishly decorated in ruby-red gems, paired with nails in alternating red, black and white with striped, circus patterns and circular embellishments.
Tony Awards
June 8, 2025 attends the 2025 Tony Awards in Schiaparelli
Photo: TheStewartofNY/FilmMagic
Erivo loves to match her nails to her outfit to accentuate a look, and the 78th Tony Awards was no different. Erivo showed up in a powder-pink sculptural gown by Schiaperelli, which featured floral designs. And her nails, you ask? Red french tips with delicate, purple flowers.
Wicked: For Good London Premiere
At the London premiere of the second part of Wicked, Erivo seemed to have ditched the green she had worn for so long (hopefully not for good). She arrived in a blue Prada gown with leather sleeves, and her nails were nude with blue details, reminiscent of Glinda’s magic bubble. Could this be a hint at how their characters have changed each other? Guess we’ll have to find out.
Editor
Matt ChauCredit
Lead image: Frazer Harrison/WireImage
