Becoming Elphaba

Elphaba’s distinctive green skin is perhaps the character’s most defining feature, and applying the paint was certainly a long and laborious process for Cynthia Erivo.

From start to finish, it took four hours each morning to paint Erivo’s body green, though the process could be sped up depending on the costume the actress would be wearing that day, and how much skin would be showing.

Taking off the green paint was much quicker, and could be wiped off in about 45 minutes - though a special makeup remover was required to do so.