Cynthia Erivo may be a seasoned Met Gala attendee now, but she still remembers the nerves of her first time in 2017. “Walking on the Met Gala carpet that year was really nerve-wracking,” she admitted at UTA’s pre-Met party. “I had just finished ‘The Color Purple’ on Broadway. I went with Coach. I was new, so I didn’t know what to expect. It was a lot of imposter syndrome.”
But that was then, and this is now. Erivo is gearing up for her sixth Met Gala, and she’s ready to dazzle. When asked about her look for this year, she teased, “It’s almost like I have run through a garden and things have fallen on me.” Her signature long nails, adorned with small flowers and foliage, were already in place on Sunday.
This year’s theme is “The Garden of Time,” in line with the Costume Institute’s exhibit, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.” And Erivo hinted that there may be a “Wicked” component to her look. “There’s always going to be an aspect of ‘Wicked’ in everything I do,” she said. “But sometimes you may have to search for it.”
Erivo has had two fittings for her ensemble and expects any final touches to be done on the day of the gala. She’ll start getting ready at noon after a five-mile run, jokingly mentioning that she did 10 miles the day before and needs to “ease” into it so she can actually walk. She’ll also indulge in some spa treatments as she prepares for the big night. “I feel like I’m being treated like a princess,” she quipped.
As for the surprise performer at this year’s gala, Erivo knows who it is but isn’t giving anything away. She’s too busy catching up with Gabrielle Union and CNN’s Abby Phillip at the party. Other attendees at the event included Awkwafina, Dwyane Wade, and Jamie Dornan.
The Met Gala red carpet arrivals kick off at about 5 p.m. ET on Monday. For extensive coverage, including interviews and all the fashion, be sure to check out Variety.com and our social platforms. It’s sure to be a night to remember!
