Cynthia Erivo Talks Her 'Wild and Insane'WickedJourney as She's Named Harvard's Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year

Mar. 15, 2025

Cynthia Erivo.Photo:Lisa Aileen Dragani/Getty; Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures

Actress Cynthia Erivo is honored as Hasty Pudding’s Woman of the Year during a ceremony at Harvard’s Farkas Hall on February 05, 2025 in Cambridge, Massachusetts; Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) Wicked part 1, image courtesy of Universal Pictures

Lisa Aileen Dragani/Getty; Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures

Cynthia Erivois having a “wild” ride withWicked!

The actress, 38, said she’s on an “insane” journey with the filmWickedduring a recent interview at Harvard as she was named Hasty Pudding Theatricals' Woman of the Year at the university.

“This year has been a complete … whirlwind,” Erivo — who plays Elphaba in the film — said at a press conference at the ceremony in Cambridge, Mass., on Feb. 5.

“Last year was absolutely wild and insane, and I have to say, I’m deeply, deeply grateful for the experiences that I’ve had, some of which are very much a first time,” she continued.

“I don’t know that any of us could have expected what has happened withWicked,” Erivo said, responding to the positive reaction to part one of the film released in November. “We knew it was special, but for the world to take it as its own in this way has been really wonderful to behold.”

Erivo was honored as Hasty Pudding’s Woman of the Year at Harvard on Feb. 5.Lisa Aileen Dragani/Getty

Cynthia Erivo is honored as Hasty Pudding’s Woman of the Year

Lisa Aileen Dragani/Getty

Harvard student Onovughakpor Otitigbe called Erivo “an icon,” telling the outlet, “She’s done so much for Black women, especially in theater. As a Black woman in theater myself, it was just really amazing to finally see her in person.”

At the ceremony, Erivo was honored with the Pudding Pot award and had a celebratory roast onstage at Harvard’s Farkas Hall, with several jokes about her filmWicked.She also participated in a finger-painting contest, creating an abstract image of her costarAriana Grande.

Erivo pictured onstage during the Hasty Pudding Ceremony at Harvard on Feb. 5.Lisa Aileen Dragani/Getty

Cynthia Erivo is honored as Hasty Pudding’s Woman of the Year

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Erivo later spoke about her “inspiring” award-season journey, after being nominated for her role as Elphaba, and the possibility of her achieving iconicEGOTstatus.

“It’s inspiring … it’s hard work to get to that point,” she said. “And honestly, when I first started, I didn’t know that the EGOT existed. I was just working, and so to be in the position where I can even suggest that it might happen one day is really, really lovely.”

The Oscar nominee added that she is excited next for fans to see the second installment ofWicked, released later this year.

“I hope that there’s more room for that for the second one coming to us. We haven’t even already got halfway through the story, and to feel like this now is really wonderful,” said Erivo.

source: people.com