'Wicked' Star Cynthia Erivo's Transformation Over the Years – 45+ Pics

Behind the thunderous ovations and dazzling red carpet moments stands a woman whose striking appearance has set tongues wagging nearly as much as her powerhouse performances.

Cynthia Erivo, the unstoppable force who leapt from the West End stage straight into Hollywood's brightest lights, has captivated audiences with her soaring vocals and soul-baring roles. But it's not just her artistry grabbing attention. The "Wicked" star's jaw-dropping physical evolution has become a headline of its own.

An Undeniable Star Power: Erivo's Career Before 'Wicked'

While millions have only recently fallen under her spell as the gravity-defying Elphaba in the blockbuster adaptation of the Broadway musical, true fans know: Erivo has been a formidable force in the entertainment world long before she ever donned green.

From 2015 to 2017, she set the stage ablaze in the stirring revival of "The Color Purple," a performance so electric it earned her both a Tony and a Grammy Award, cementing her as a vocal and emotional powerhouse. And she didn't stop there.

Erivo stormed onto the silver screen with commanding performances in "Widows," "Bad Times at the El Royale," and most notably "Harriet," the critically acclaimed biopic that earned her a coveted Oscar nomination in 2020.

But that wasn't the only golden statue within reach. She also co-wrote and performed the film's soul-stirring anthem "Stand Up," landing her a second Academy Award nod that same year.

Television audiences were equally mesmerized, with Erivo delivering an uncanny transformation as Aretha Franklin in National Geographic's anthology series on the legendary singer. It was a role that won her an Emmy Award and proved, once again, that there is nothing this woman can't do.

Yet beyond the accolades, the flashing cameras, and the thunderous applause, Erivo has become a devoted champion of health and fitness.

The Grit Behind the Glamour: Erivo's Relentless Routine

While stunning audiences night after night in "The Color Purple," Erivo was preparing for a staggering feat of endurance behind the scenes. In November 2016, at the height of her Broadway run, she laced up her sneakers and conquered the New York City Marathon, finishing with a time of 3:57:07.

A dazzling achievement for anyone, let alone a performer juggling eight shows a week.

Years later, in 2024, she would reveal to Runner's World that her love affair with running began when she was just 22 years old, during her training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London.

At first, it wasn't about medals or marathons. Erivo took up running simply to balance out the effects of her true workout obsession: weight training. She feared bulking up too much, so she hit the pavement to keep her figure lean and agile.

But what began as a countermeasure soon turned into a vital piece of her lifestyle, and her dedication didn't stop at the gym or the track. The actress paid meticulous attention to her eating habits.

Vegan by Necessity: Inside Erivo's Rigorous Diet

In 2018, Erivo revealed to Bon Appétit that she had already been committed to a vegan lifestyle for five years. It was a deliberate, body-driven decision brought on due to her body's needs.

She simply couldn't process red meat properly. On top of that, dairy posed a major threat to her craft. As a singer, dairy products could interfere with her vocal cords, potentially putting her most precious asset at risk.

But Erivo realized she was cutting out more and more food groups without a clear structure. That's when full veganism became her answer as a way to nourish her body without compromise.

Sticking to such a disciplined diet isn't easy, especially with her non-stop schedule. So she travels with a personal stash of essentials to keep herself on track.

Among her go-to items: seaweed chips, edamame chips, avocados, tea, and more. She even prepares meals before flights, always packs a thermos and fresh fruit, and refuses to stay in a hotel unless there's both a kettle and a fridge waiting in the room.

Erivo's diet allows her the benefit of eating freely, without sabotaging her energy or performance. But there's one non-negotiable: nothing after 9 p.m. That simple boundary gives her digestion the rest it needs to support her grueling workouts and keep her at peak condition, day after day.

Fueled by Endorphins: How Fitness Shapes Erivo's Mind and Career

Erivo's body doesn't just accept activity. It demands it, and she's learned to listen. "You release serotonin when you work out, so I think I may be slightly addicted to the feeling," she confessed.

At the gym, trainers eventually learned what she could handle, and they pushed her to match her mental grit with physical power.

And her dedication is written all over her timeline. For years, Erivo has documented her grind. In 2017, she posted a photo on Instagram showing off her incredibly toned back, a snapshot of the strength and vitality she had already built.

By 2021, she told People that fitness had become a daily ritual. Her mornings often start with a run or a core workout, which is her personal form of meditation. It's how she connects with herself, controls her breath, stills her mind, and commands her body.

Ultimately, it shows in her work. "I think that the fitter I am, the easier it is to do the things I need to do," she explained. As a singer, her lungs and diaphragm are essential tools, and they must be primed for peak performance.

So she stays committed to her routine, adding, "I try to workout every morning and if I don't get it in the morning, I try to do it at night." It's not always easy with her demanding workload hours, but Erivo never lets the day slip away without at least a moment of movement.

No Rest for the Wicked: A Role That Pushed Erivo to the Edge

Ever since landing the coveted role in "Wicked," Erivo's already punishing fitness routine reached new, dizzying heights.

The sequel, "Wicked: For Good," is now in theaters, but back in 2024, she revealed during a post-screening Q&A at the DGA Theatre that her preparation for the first film involved "rigorous training" to "make sure that her body was prepared" for the role of a lifetime.

This was because the musical demands of "Defying Gravity" pushed Erivo to her limits. Insistent on doing her own stunts, the actress sang live, while being suspended in the air and strapped into a corset.

She nailed it thanks to an exceptional vocal coach who trained her to breathe through the chaos. Most singers ground themselves to draw power, but Erivo had to find her voice while literally floating, with her diaphragm constricted and compressed, a feat most would never even attempt.

Nothing about it was easy, and she never expected it to be. Yet Erivo wouldn't have it any other way. Speaking at a Q&A with Kristen Bell at the Academy Museum's Ted Mann Theatre last year, she admitted to making serious sacrifices, especially when it came to sleep.

"I think I consciously run towards things that will use me physically, as well as mentally, because I believe that the body and the mind are intrinsically, truly intrinsically linked," Erivo explained.

She was sleeping less than three hours a night. Her day began with a two-hour workout, followed by another two hours in the makeup chair, all before a 5 a.m. call time.

Amid the chaos, one light shined bright: her bond with Ariana Grande. The two forged a deep connection on set, and Erivo didn't hesitate to stand up for her co-star when online harassment spiraled into cruel attacks.

"I think that the more we can protect ourselves from that the better… the best way to support someone who is going through that is really to be a counterpoint to whatever is coming at that person – be the voice that is positive," she told Deadline.

'Unrecognizable:' Fans React to Erivo's Dramatic Transformation

Despite her long-standing devotion to fitness and health, Erivo's noticeably slimmer figure since taking on "Wicked" has sparked a flood of reactions online.

A TikTok video that compiled before-and-after clips of Erivo and Grande left viewers stunned. The side-by-side visuals exposed just how much Erivo's body has changed, prompting hundreds of comments from shocked netizens who hadn't realized how different she now looks.

"This is insane, turns out I did know Cynthia before wicked but I just never recognised her again because WHAT😭," one person wrote. Another added, "i had never seen cynthia pre wicked before omg, this is shocking [sic]."

Others focused on the muscle mass Erivo once carried. "Cynthia was ripped, it's scary how much muscle mass she lost," someone observed. Another viewer commented, "Cynthia wow she looked strong," while one echoed the sentiment with, "Cynthia was so strong and toned."

On X, one post simply read, "Cynthia Erivo is unrecognizable."

Whether fans are amazed, worried, or speechless, one thing is clear: Erivo's transformation is impossible to ignore, and the conversation around it only continues to grow.