Cynthia Erivo on the Emotional Depth of ‘No Good Deed’ and ‘For Good’ in Wicked: For Good

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The highly anticipated continuation of the Oz story, Wicked: For Good, features a stellar cast including Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Marissa Bode, Ethan Slater, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum. Directed by Jon M. Chu, this film is the second part of a two-part adaptation of the popular stage musical Wicked. It explores the complex relationship between Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West (played by Erivo), and her former friend Glinda the Good (played by Grande) as they navigate a politically charged Oz filled with propaganda.

A particularly powerful scene in For Good features Cynthia Erivo performing “No Good Deed.” This song shows Elphaba trying to rescue Fiyero (played by Bailey) after he bravely sacrifices himself so she can escape. Erivo has said that this moment was especially emotionally demanding compared to other songs in the film.

Erivo expressed her pride in ‘No Good Deed,’ explaining that she filmed much of it alone. She described acting opposite a blue screen, a platform, and visual effects of fire and rocks, with no other actors present.

The movie shows Elphaba’s magic through special effects and memories, but Cynthia Erivo didn’t have any of that while she was filming. She had to create those emotions herself. As she explained, they filmed in a way that required her to imagine past events, because none of the visual cues were actually there – it all had to come from within her mind.

She felt incredibly proud to have delivered such a powerful performance while still connecting with the emotion of the moment. The film’s emotional peak, the duet “For Good” with Ariana Grande, was also deeply moving because it allowed both of them to be truly open and vulnerable.

Erivo explained that the characters had a choice to avoid dealing with their pain, but the filmmakers chose to confront it directly, which she was proud of. Traditionally, Elphaba has been seen as a very strong and self-assured character, but the film, particularly through the song ‘For Good,’ allowed them to reveal a more vulnerable and softer side of her that hadn’t been explored before.

Erivo was “very proud” to portray a more vulnerable side of her character, one that learns to relinquish control. She explained that they successfully made the character feel fully human and complex, giving her a beating heart and a full range of emotions – from raw instinct and intense heartbreak to grief, pain, love, and desire – ultimately making her feel real and relatable.

Originally a beloved song from the stage musical, “For Good”—a heartfelt goodbye and apology between the two main characters—gave the movie its title. Wicked: For Good is now showing in cinemas.

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2025-11-23 00:32