10 Times Ariana Grande Gushed About 'Sister,' 'Brilliant Human Being' — and Birthday Girl — Cynthia Erivo

Mar. 15, 2025

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.Photo:Kevin Mazur/Getty

Kevin Mazur/Getty

Ariana Grandethinks the world of herWickedcostar — and birthday girl! —Cynthia Erivo.Since the news broke that the wickedly talented duo would be stepping into the roles of Elphaba and Glinda in the film adaptation of the beloved musical, the two have shared lots about how much the roles and their subsequent friendship have changed them “For Good.“In honor of Erivo’s 38th birthday on Jan. 8, here’s a look back at some of the sweetest things the “We Can’t Be Friends” singer has said about her costar and “sister.”

Ariana Grandethinks the world of herWickedcostar — and birthday girl! —Cynthia Erivo.

Since the news broke that the wickedly talented duo would be stepping into the roles of Elphaba and Glinda in the film adaptation of the beloved musical, the two have shared lots about how much the roles and their subsequent friendship have changed them “For Good.”

In honor of Erivo’s 38th birthday on Jan. 8, here’s a look back at some of the sweetest things the “We Can’t Be Friends” singer has said about her costar and “sister.”

01of 10Friendship BeginningsAriana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.Emma McIntyre/GettyAs the news of Grande and Erivo’s casting was made public to the world,The Color Purpleactressshared a carousel of imagesthat included a bouquet of pink and green florals along with a heartfelt message.“Dear Cynthia, honored doesn’t even begin to cover it. I cannot wait to hug you. See you in Oz,” the note from Grande read. “All my love, Ari.”

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Friendship Beginnings

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.Emma McIntyre/Getty

Emma McIntyre/Getty

As the news of Grande and Erivo’s casting was made public to the world,The Color Purpleactressshared a carousel of imagesthat included a bouquet of pink and green florals along with a heartfelt message.

“Dear Cynthia, honored doesn’t even begin to cover it. I cannot wait to hug you. See you in Oz,” the note from Grande read. “All my love, Ari.”

02of 10You’ve Got a Friend in MeAriana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.Don Arnold/WireImage"I think that was one of my most cherished parts of this experience: I felt held and like I had a friend every step of the way,” the “Positions” singer toldThe New York Timesof the duo’s relationship. “I’m really proud of us for how genuinely we took care of each other throughout this whole time.”

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You’ve Got a Friend in Me

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.Don Arnold/WireImage

Don Arnold/WireImage

“I think that was one of my most cherished parts of this experience: I felt held and like I had a friend every step of the way,” the “Positions” singer toldThe New York Timesof the duo’s relationship. “I’m really proud of us for how genuinely we took care of each other throughout this whole time.”

03of 10Standing TogetherCynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in ‘Wicked.'.Universal Pictures“We’re very different, but when we’re doing something like this together, her needs become my needs,” Grande toldVarietyof why the two looked overtheir individualWickedcontracts together.“And her needs become mine,” Erivo added.

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Standing Together

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in ‘Wicked.'.Universal Pictures

Universal Pictures

“We’re very different, but when we’re doing something like this together, her needs become my needs,” Grande toldVarietyof why the two looked overtheir individualWickedcontracts together.

“And her needs become mine,” Erivo added.

04of 10Gift of a FriendCynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.Max Cisotti/Dave Benett/WireImage"Cynthia is just an absolute brilliant gift of a human being,” Grande toldPaul Mescalduring their sit down forVariety’s Actors on Actors.

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Gift of a Friend

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.Max Cisotti/Dave Benett/WireImage

Max Cisotti/Dave Benett/WireImage

“Cynthia is just an absolute brilliant gift of a human being,” Grande toldPaul Mescalduring their sit down forVariety’s Actors on Actors.

05of 10Chosen FamilyAriana Grande and Cynthia Erivo at the 2024 Met Gala.John Shearer/WireImage"She is really truly my sister. We really found in each other things we needed," Grande toldVarietyat the2024 Met Gala.

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Chosen Family

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo at the 2024 Met Gala.John Shearer/WireImage

John Shearer/WireImage

“She is really truly my sister. We really found in each other things we needed,” Grande toldVarietyat the2024 Met Gala.

06of 10Sharing the LoveAriana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in ‘Wicked.'.Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures"I hope we learned a lot from each other, but I learned so much as a person from her," Grande said during atwo-part conversationon thePodcrushedpodcast of Erivo.“And she loves hard. She is a Capricorn, and she loves hard and honestly and right.”

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Sharing the Love

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in ‘Wicked.'.Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures

Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures

“I hope we learned a lot from each other, but I learned so much as a person from her,” Grande said during atwo-part conversationon thePodcrushedpodcast of Erivo.“And she loves hard. She is a Capricorn, and she loves hard and honestly and right.”

07of 10"Hold Space"Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.Matthew Stockman/GettyElsewhere in the interview, Grande said she “feels so grateful to have” madeWickedwith Erivo and “to work with someone who is just absolutely in their own league of talent.““There’s no one like her,” she added. “And to just feel like we somehow speak the same language and somehow we’re destined to do this together, and to feel safe every single day together and hold space.”

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“Hold Space”

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.Matthew Stockman/Getty

Matthew Stockman/Getty

Elsewhere in the interview, Grande said she “feels so grateful to have” madeWickedwith Erivo and “to work with someone who is just absolutely in their own league of talent.”

“There’s no one like her,” she added. “And to just feel like we somehow speak the same language and somehow we’re destined to do this together, and to feel safe every single day together and hold space.”

08of 10Destined to Work TogetherCynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.Kevin Mazur/Getty"To have the love that we haveand trust that we haveand deep love that we have for each other … I think it all kind of happened the way it did because of that, and because we were supposed to be in each other’s lives. I really do,” she continued to share with hostsPenn Badgley, Nava Kavelin and Sophie Ansari . “I love her so much.”

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Destined to Work Together

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.Kevin Mazur/Getty

“To have the love that we haveand trust that we haveand deep love that we have for each other … I think it all kind of happened the way it did because of that, and because we were supposed to be in each other’s lives. I really do,” she continued to share with hostsPenn Badgley, Nava Kavelin and Sophie Ansari . “I love her so much.”

09of 10Pink Goes Good with GreenAriana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.Santiago Felipe/Getty“Her eyes, her hands, it’s otherworldly,” the singertoldVarietyof Erivoand how she “humanizes [Elphaba] in such an extraordinary way and brings her to life.“The “7 Rings” singer said she “will never forget a minute of filming with” Erivo.

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Pink Goes Good with Green

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.Santiago Felipe/Getty

Santiago Felipe/Getty

“Her eyes, her hands, it’s otherworldly,” the singertoldVarietyof Erivoand how she “humanizes [Elphaba] in such an extraordinary way and brings her to life.”

The “7 Rings” singer said she “will never forget a minute of filming with" Erivo.

10of 10Together for Awards SeasonCynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande hugging director Jon M. Chu at the Golden Globes.Rich Polk/GG2025/Penske Media via Getty"We were just crying together and screaming, and we sent each other flowers immediately," Grandetold PEOPLE of how she reacted when both she and Erivo received Golden Globe nominationsfor their performances inWicked.“I’m just really deeply proud of her and of us together and the work that we’ve done,” she continued. “And to see it be recognized is just so — the weight is more than I could have imagined.“While neither actress took home the award for acting,Wickeddid win the 2025 Golden Globefor cinematic and box office achievement.

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Together for Awards Season

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande hugging director Jon M. Chu at the Golden Globes.Rich Polk/GG2025/Penske Media via Getty

Rich Polk/GG2025/Penske Media via Getty

“We were just crying together and screaming, and we sent each other flowers immediately,” Grandetold PEOPLE of how she reacted when both she and Erivo received Golden Globe nominationsfor their performances inWicked.

“I’m just really deeply proud of her and of us together and the work that we’ve done,” she continued. “And to see it be recognized is just so — the weight is more than I could have imagined.”

While neither actress took home the award for acting,Wickeddid win the 2025 Golden Globefor cinematic and box office achievement.

source: people.com