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Former Elphaba Lindsay Mendez Applauds Cynthia Erivo’s ‘Wicked: For Good’ Performance

Her on-record praise reinforces momentum for the sequel’s theatrical run and its celebrated lead turns.

Overview

  • Lindsay Mendez, who played Elphaba on Broadway in 2013–2014, said she “loved” the film and called Cynthia Erivo “a goddess,” also praising Ariana Grande.
  • Mendez told PEOPLE the movie “hit all my Wicked notes” and said she was thrilled to see audiences turning out for movie musicals.
  • Cynthia Erivo stars as Elphaba opposite Ariana Grande’s Glinda in the two-part screen adaptation, now with Wicked: For Good in theaters.
  • Erivo has said she developed a 103°F fever during her three-hour audition, a moment casting directors Bernard Telsey and Tiffany Little Canfield recall she “just nailed,” as reported by PEOPLE from an NBC special.
  • At a Dec. 3 event, Erivo shared her reflections on the sequel’s ending and described being overwhelmed by fans’ support, emphasizing the story’s themes without revealing plot details.