Cynthia Erivo was a hardcore nail art enthusiast long before she played the lead role in Wicked movies, but the elaborate Elphaba-inspired manicure she was sporting on this press tour has me under their spell. It started with the bejeweled green and burnt orange beetle shell manicure she wore to the launch of the Wicked x OPI Manicure collection in New York City. Next, the flame and snake-crawling mint green and black stiletto nails she wore appeared at the ACADEMY Museum gala and the 10CFDA Awards on May 2024. And not to mention the black lace-tipped nails she wore to the Sydney premiere of the film, a silver cross charm and a giant emerald gem

So far, most of Erivo's witch manicures have been done by the work of nail technician Rose Huckle, who the star has worked for 5 years. It was. For the wicked premiere in Mexico City. On May 11, the Grammy-winning singer tapped 19-year-old Dior, aka Clawz, by Dior: its client list includes Olympians Jordan Childs and Sha'carri Richardson, a Los Angeles-based nail artist.

Without a doubt, it was Erivo's most nail-centric ensemble. While her co-star Ariana Grande went out in an iridescent strapless ball gown, Erivo hit the yellow carpet in a hooded Tom Brown Bolero jacket that literally had an extra set of hands growing from the shoulders. Topping off the two-piece set was a black and green sequined strapless dress with an exaggerated, angular hip silhouette styled by Jason Bolden. Unlike the fake hands of cloth that surrounded her face, adorned with pointed dark green tips, Erivo's actual hands were adorned with glittering blood-red paint spills, sharp silver spikes and ominous black swirls.

Erivo also led her love of nail art to the styling of her characters.The Elfaba: Evil green skin, painfully misunderstood hero.

"I wanted her to have a microblade, and I wanted her to have a full set," Erivo previously told Marie Claire, calling those creative choices "a nod to my culture and a nod to the character.""

Extravagant nails, she continues, will play an important role in both evil: Part One, out on nov. 22, and Wicked: Part 2, scheduled for release in 2025. In the first installment, Elfaba's nail journey begins with a makeover scene where she gets a sparkly set of black and metallic green nails.

"In the second film, they are much longer and much more expressive," Erivo added. "We are playing in the marbling of it, we are playing ombré...It is the realization of the magic she has."