Cynthia Erivo loves an opulent manicure. From this year’s Met Gala to the opening ceremony of the Olympics, we can count on two things: her nails will look incredible and it will be the work of her “visionary nail artist” Rose Hackle. So for an evening celebrating the upcoming OPI X Wicked collection (available to shop on 1 October), it only makes sense that Erivo, who was just announced as the global brand ambassador, would need something major.
“This time she wanted them to be super, super sexy,” the superstar actor, singer, songwriter and producer tells Vogue. “The shape is really edgy, angular and cool. Our last set was really girly. We’ve been using a base of green, which is always our main colour for obvious reasons. We used that and worked around that. We’ve also used some really stunning jewels from Coca Michelle in combination with OPI, which is very dreamy.”
The look started with the OPI X Wicked collection in shades Ozitively Elphaba, Witch ‘O Clock and Black Onyx. From there, each nail was personalised – a charm here, some chrome topper there – for a one-of-a-kind Wicked style. For Erivo, “it’s a case of using the nails to connect the story of Elphaba, rather than interpreting her [through my beauty looks],” she shares. “It’s continuing the culture that was there before. Margaret Hamilton [who played the Wicked Witch of the West in 1939’s The Wizard of Oz] had nails, I have nails, and Elphaba has nails. Technically, she has nails because of us.”
In terms of her casting and upcoming press tour – which has her wearing a whole lot of green in her future – Erivo considers herself lucky. “It’s actually my favourite colour. I love it, and I will always love it. In terms of my casting, it’s given me an excuse to buy more green clothes.”
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