The movie Wicked is the top grossing movie this fall, and it stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariane Grade. But while Cynthia has the lead role, Media Take Out confirmed that she’s not getting paid like it.
CAP D’ANTIBES, FRANCE – MAY 26: Cynthia Erivo attends the amfAR Gala Cannes 2022 at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on May 26, 2022 in Cap d’Antibes, France. (Photo by Lionel Hahn/Getty Images)
When the “Wicked” cast was announced in 2022, it was well-known that Ariana Grande desired to play Glinda. She had previously performed various songs from the musical, including “The Wizard and I.”
Reportedly, Ariana negotiated a $15 million salary for the role, making her the highest-paid cast member, surpassing her co-star Cynthia Erivo, who earned $1 million as Elphaba.
This pay disparity may reflect their respective net worths, with Ariana valued at $230 million compared to Cynthia’s $3 million.
Or it could reflect something else … like racism.
Cynthia is a British actress and singer. She gained recognition for starring in the Broadway revival of The Color Purple from 2015 to 2017. She earned numerous accolades for her performance, including the 2016 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. Erivo ventured into films in 2018, playing roles in the heist film Widows and the thriller Bad Times at the El Royale.
For her portrayal of American abolitionist Harriet Tubman in the biopic Harriet (2019), Erivo received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress; she also wrote and performed the song “Stand Up” on its soundtrack, which garnered her a nomination in the Best Original Song category. She has since starred as Elphaba in the musical fantasy film Wicked (2024).
