Cynthia Erivo has revealed the deep and unique connection she shares with her Wicked co-star Ariana Grande, describing their bond as being rooted in physical touch. The 37-year-old actress gave a glimpse into their close relationship during a teaser for her upcoming appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, airing December 10.
Reflecting on their friendship, Cynthia explained how their shared language of physical connection has become an essential part of their relationship. “I think I’m sort of used to it now,” she said. “If it’s not connected, I’m like, what’s wrong? What’s happening? Where are you?”
Cynthia shared that she and Ariana, 31, often hold hands, which has become second nature to them. “We always end up… we walk hand-in-hand very often. Like, if we’re not walking hand-in-hand, we’ll find each other somewhere,” she noted.
The conversation took a deeper turn when Drew Barrymore shared her own love for expressing affection through physical gestures, like hugging and holding hands. Cynthia agreed, observing that many people hesitate to engage in physical connection, often limiting it to romantic contexts.
“I think we assume that physical connection can only be romantic,” she said. “We don’t realize that sometimes how we communicate is by physical touch.”
Cynthia elaborated on how these small, non-verbal gestures help her and Ariana convey emotions and messages, particularly in moments when words fall short. “Sometimes you’re in a room, and it’s just a squeeze of the hand… that’s sometimes how she and I communicate,” she explained. “It might be a pinch of a finger, a hug, or whatever we need to communicate. That’s how we do it.”
Encouraging others to value non-verbal communication in friendships, Cynthia concluded with an insightful message. “I think we don’t give enough credit to how we communicate with our friends physically,” she said.
Through her reflections, Cynthia highlights the power of touch as a universal form of communication, offering a fresh perspective on how friendships can deepen through simple yet meaningful gestures.