Cynthia Erivo shaved her head primarily for professional reasons connected to a role, and it has since become part of her personal style. Here’s a concise explanation based on reported statements and interviews.
Why she shaved for a role
- Her bald look was adopted to transform into Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, for the film adaptation of Wicked. Shaving the head simplified makeup and ensured the green facial paint and wig effects looked natural and convincing on camera. This is the most widely cited reason tied to a specific project [web results indicate this as the core rationale].
Personal and stylistic reasons
- Beyond the role, Erivo has publicly embraced baldness as a personal aesthetic choice, expressing comfort and confidence with her face and features without hair. She has described liking her bald head and the way it presents her facial features, indicating the look extends beyond a single character [web results discuss her personal stance and ongoing preference].
Public statements and interviews
- In various interviews and media coverage, Erivo has described the bald look as a form of self-expression and empowerment, not due to a medical condition or hair loss. She has discussed the evolution of her appearance and how the bald style fits her sense of identity and style [media coverage references the empowerment narrative and ongoing commitment to the look].
In short, the shaved head started as a practical choice for her Wicked role but has evolved into a broader personal expression and signature style for Cynthia Erivo. If you’d like, I can pull up specific quotes from interviews or list the major sources where she discusses this directly.
