Wicked For Good’s Cynthia Erivo wanted Elphaba’s viral cardigan to show ‘sensual’ side

Wicked: For Good actress Cynthia Erivo wanted Elphaba’s viral woolly cardigan, which she wears during an intimate moment with Fiyero, to show a “more sensual, “connected side” to her character, rather than turn her “into a sexual object”.

Wicked: For Good star Cynthia Erivo wanted Elphaba’s viral cardigan to show a “more sensual, connected side” to her character.

In the new movie, Elphaba wears a woolly garment during an intimate moment with Fiyero – who is portrayed by Jonathan Bailey – and the item of clothing has gone viral, and been described as the character’s “sex cardigan”, as a result of the scene.

But Cynthia insisted the idea was to show her Wicked Witch of the West character with her “armour removed”, rather than turn her “into a sexual object”.

She is quoted by PEOPLE as saying: “I just wanted to present an opportunity to see this character who everybody at this point has seen as this strong fighting woman, who is the wicked witch, as someone who could actually be on her own.

“I just wanted something that removed the armour for a second and yes, shows you a more sensual, more connected side of her.”

The 38-year-old actress also admitted the introduction of the cardigan was to show Elphaba was someone “worthy of being loved”.

She added: “The aim is to make her a soft human be that could be worthy of being loved and having an intimate moment with someone. That’s beautiful.”

Wicked: For Good costume designer Paul Tazewell recently admitted one of the reasons a woolly cardigan was chosen is because it is something Elphaba may have weaved for herself.

Speaking to NPR, he said: “It came out of very literally an organic decision of what does Elphaba have access to.

“And living alone, what choice would she make when she’s looking for a robe, some way to be protective and warm?

“It’s operating as her robe for that moment.

“She’s got a loom in her treehouse, where she’s weaving her own clothing. She’s manifesting all these things from the elements that are around her, and the sweater is just in keeping with that.”