Can Dracula revive Cynthia Erivo’s reputation? The stakes are high as she  brings her one-woman play to life after being ridiculed for her ‘creepy’ behaviour on the Wicked promo tour

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After a challenging experience promoting Wicked, Cynthia Erivo’s one-woman show Dracula in London’s West End might finally bring her the recognition she’s earned.

Since the movie Wicked came out in 2024, followed by its sequel last year, the 39-year-old actress and her co-star Ariana Grande, 32, have faced a lot of criticism for how they acted during the film’s promotional events.

As a huge fan of the Wicked movie, I was honestly shocked that Cynthia Erivo, who absolutely killed it as Elphaba, and Ariana Grande, as Glinda, didn’t get Oscar nominations! Everyone’s been raving about the film, so it feels like a real oversight that their performances weren’t recognized.

Some believe the actors were overlooked by Oscar voters because their very public and intensely affectionate behavior during interviews made people uncomfortable.

Fans expressed concern not only about the actresses’ awkward appearances on the red carpet, but also about their significant weight loss.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve seen how quickly things can change for someone in the public eye. It was tough to watch Cynthia, after having such a promising movie, face some negative press during the promotional tour. Then, when the first few shows of her West End play were cancelled, I really worried about the impact on her reputation. It felt like a lot of positive momentum was being threatened, and I think many of us were hoping she’d be able to turn things around.

The play will premiere this Saturday, February 7th, at the Noel Coward Theatre and run through May 31st.

Cynthia is taking on the challenge of playing Dracula and all 22 other characters in a one-person show based on Bram Stoker’s classic horror novel.

The first three performances of her one-woman play were cancelled because of production issues, pushing the start date from February 4th to a later, unspecified time.

The first previews of Dracula were cancelled because the show is technically complex. A message to ticket holders explained that the production team needed more time to finish everything and make sure the show was exactly as they envisioned it.

Cynthia isn’t new to London’s West End – she first appeared there in 2011 in a production of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg.

The actress shared her excitement about returning to the stage, describing it as a long-awaited and deeply desired return to her roots.

Adapting a story as layered, intricate, and emotionally powerful as DRACULA provides a wonderful chance to explore the characters, the underlying myths, and what truly defines our humanity.

As soon as I heard about the role, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Kip’s take on the story is both exciting and unsettling, and it really spoke to me. It’s a chance to explore not just the difficult parts of life, but also the hope we try to maintain.

It’s unusual for an actor to portray such a wide range of characters and viewpoints in a single performance, and I feel privileged to be doing so for West End theatregoers in this remarkable show.

Okay, so this show… it genuinely terrifies me, but in the best way possible! I know it’s going to push me to my absolute limit, demand everything I have, and honestly? I’m so ready to just completely pour myself into it. I’m prepared to give it everything.

The outrage over Ariana and Cynthia not being nominated for an Oscar led one Academy voter to anonymously explain their decision.

News Nation reports that Academy Award voters were reportedly bothered by the couple’s excessive public displays of affection during their recent promotional tour.

One voter told Paula Froelich that the movie was just okay, despite the two lead actors having great chemistry. They added that the actors weren’t together on screen for much of the film.

I was really put off by their promotional events. They made a lot of people uncomfortable, and in trying too hard to seem genuine, they ended up feeling like they were just pretending.

The Daily Mail has contacted The Academy for comment on these allegations but has not received a response.

Last November, a fan unexpectedly rushed towards the singer of “7 Rings” at the Singapore film premiere. Cynthia immediately intervened to protect her.

The man who approached her was identified as Johnson Wen, known as @PyjamaMann on Instagram.

Days before that Ariana and Cynthia were teased online for gushing over each other’s ‘auras.’ 

In Paris they were asked to describe each other’s ‘auras’ by an Elle magazine journalist.

Ariana said Cynthia’s was ‘yellow,’ like ‘sunshine.’ She added, ‘I think there’s also purple.’ 

Cynthia described her co-star using colors, saying they reminded her of a bright, clear sky, like aqua, and the warm shades of a sunset.

After the red carpet appearance, someone commented on Reddit, ‘I can’t relive that again,’ recalling the movie stars’ awkward publicity events earlier in 2024.

A particularly touching moment in 2024 happened during an interview with Out Magazine. Singer Ariana Grande held actress Jurnee Smollett’s finger, creating a memorable connection during their conversation with journalist Tracy E. Gilchrist.

In an interview, journalist Tracy E. Gilchrist shared with Cynthia Erivo that she’d noticed people online talking about the lyrics to “Defying Gravity” – the emotional song Erivo performs in Wicked – and how it made them feel empowered.

Cynthia was clearly touched when she heard the news, responding, ‘I had no idea! That’s amazing, and exactly what I was hoping for.’

While speaking, Ariana became emotional and squeezed her friend’s finger, offering a comforting gesture of support.

I’ve been seeing a lot of chatter online about a sweet moment between Ariana and Cynthia! People were playfully reacting to a photo circulating on X – it showed Ariana gently holding Cynthia’s finger, and everyone was asking what the connection was all about. It was a really cute, innocent gesture that sparked a lot of curiosity and good-natured teasing.

‘Is this a sketch comedy show or something?’ someone else wrote on the social media platform.

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2026-02-07 11:49