Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s connection began taking shape long before cameras rolled on Wicked. What started as professional admiration gradually shifted into something steadier—an exchange of trust and mutual support that grew with each rehearsal, studio session and behind-the-scenes moment shared during the film’s long production.
Their bond deepened in the spaces most people never see: the late-night vocal runs, the on-set challenges that demanded both vulnerability and the celebrations, big and small, that marked their progress.
What emerged was a partnership that blended discipline with warmth, turning a major Hollywood project into the backdrop for a friendship that now feels inseparable from the story itself…
2022 — Early Connection
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo attend as Universal Pictures presents special New York City WICKED Screening in 2024. (Source: Santiago Felipe/Getty Images for Universal Pictures)
Their bond began quietly as preparations for Wicked moved into full swing. Long rehearsal days in shared spaces pushed them into an unexpected rhythm—one built on patience, vocal work, and small conversations that made the workload feel lighter. What started as professional respect slowly took shape as familiarity, the kind that grows when two performers rely on each other to bring a massive project to life.
2023 — A Symbol Takes Form
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande attend a red carpet in 2024. (Source: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
As filming settled into its most demanding stretch, their connection deepened into something more intentional. The decision to get matching “For Good” tattoos became a quiet declaration of the trust forming between them, a mark tied to both their characters and their personal journey. In the months that followed, the bond carried through late-night sessions, costume fittings, and creative challenges that required constant support.
2024 — Friendship in the Spotlight
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo at the CinemaCon 2024. (Source: Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images)
By the time promotional work began, the closeness between them was impossible to ignore. Interviews revealed a friendship marked by openness and understanding, rooted in long days on set and the emotional weight of the story they were helping shape. Their shared experiences spilled over into public moments—press appearances, heartfelt comments, and the subtle warmth that signaled a connection far deeper than a standard co-star dynamic.
2025 — A Lasting Mark
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande attend the “Wicked: For Good” European Premiere in 2025. (Source: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
As Wicked: For Good approached release, their partnership felt fully formed. Matching tattoos appeared again in celebration posts, now symbols of a journey nearly completed and a friendship that had proven steady across years of work. Their reflections during this period showed two artists who found both creative alignment and genuine companionship, leaving a final stretch of production colored by the bond they built along the way.
