How Cynthia Erivo Prepared For Filming Her ‘Wicked: For Good’ Scenes (Exclusive) originally appeared on Parade.
Wicked fans haven’t been privy to many details about part two of the musical film adaptation yet — but Cynthia Erivo is pulling back the curtain (pun very much intended) on one of her on set must-haves.
The Emmy-, Grammy- and Tony-Award winning actress, 38, tells Parade exclusively that she credits Listerine mouthwash for giving her “peace of mind” as a star who spends much of her time speaking to others. And without sharing any spoilers, it’s great especially during scenes like “As Long As You’re Mine,” which require being in closer proximity to certain castmates.
“I’m conscious — when you’re standing in front of people that close and you have to get that close, yes,” Erivo says. “I know that if I’m standing in front of someone, I’m not double thinking about ‘How does my breath smell? Are my teeth clean?'”
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After years of using the mouthwash brand, including every day of filming “Wicked” and “Wicked: For Good,” she’s now partnering with Listerine to spread the oral care gospel. And Listerine is helping Erivo ensure she’ll be able to perform at her best for years to come by offering her a whopping $2 million insurance policy: She just has to follow a twice-daily routine of brushing, flossing and washing her mouth with Listerine’s Total Care Alcohol Free mouthwash.
“I feel very well taken care of,” Erivo says. “It means I never have to worry. In performing, especially as a singer, I’m using my mouth a lot. I know that someone else cares just as much about my mouth and how that is used to do the work that I do.”
The insurance policy is part of Erivo and Listerine’s Wash Your Mouth campaign, which the oral care brand hopes will raise awareness for rounding out a brushing and flossing routine with regular mouthwashing. Fans can enter a giveaway on Listerine’s social media accounts, where winners will receive their own “Wash Your Mouth” kit complete with a toothbrush, floss, mouthwash, a “swish cup” and more.
To Erivo, taking care of her mouth is an extension of the rest of her wellness routine. While she’s a fan of workouts and lymphatic drainage massages, she says her daily care begins first thing in the morning with that oral care trifecta of brushing, flossing and rinsing with mouthwash.
Related: Fans Have ‘Chills’ Watching Kristin Chenoweth Sing With Fellow ‘Wicked’ Alum
“Self care is a holistic thing,” Erivo says. “I think sometimes we think about it as like, we’ll go get a massage, or we’ll go out for drinks with our friends or we’ll take the day off. But for me, it’s really a holistic thing. The whole body should be included in taking care of oneself.”
With everything going on in Erivo’s career right now, that self-care is necessary. Last month, she hosted the Tony Awards and released her second studio album, “I Forgive You.” She and co-star Ariana Grande (Glinda) will soon be holding space for the “Wicked: For Good” press tour. And the two are set to perform live in a “Wicked” special November 6 on NBC before the film hits theaters November 21.
“Because I have so much going on, I can’t really get into all of those things if I’m not taking care of myself. And so I put a lot of importance on taking care of my body, my health, my mind and that includes my mouth — before I even get into the work that I’m doing. I don’t think I could do all the things that I’m doing if I wasn’t taking care of myself first.”
“Wicked: For Good” brings the conclusion to the two-part film adaptation of the iconic Broadway musical. Elphaba and Glinda find themselves isolated, living separate lives as they navigate the paths (brick roads?) in life they’ve chosen — as Dorothy blows into town and brings further complications to the land of Oz. Erivo says she’s most excited for fans to watch “the way in which these women have grown and matured.”
“That’s sort of an adventure in itself,” she adds. “I think it’s a really beautiful conclusion to these women’s lives and where they are, what they want to do and who they’ve become.”
Related: All About ‘Wicked: For Good’: When Does ‘Part Two’ Come Out?
How Cynthia Erivo Prepared For Filming Her ‘Wicked: For Good’ Scenes (Exclusive) first appeared on Parade on Jul 29, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
