The acclaimed actress Cynthia Erivo has repeatedly mistaken Jonathan Bailey, her Wicked co-star, for an old drama school friend. This amusing confusion stems from a strong feeling that they’ve known each other for years.
Despite both being prominent figures in London theatre and even appearing in the same show, Chewing Gum, these two British celebrities didn’t officially meet until they began rehearsals for the Wicked movie. In the film, Erivo plays Elphaba and Bailey takes on the role of the love interest, Fiyero.
Their connection was instantaneous during rehearsals, leading to such a close bond that Erivo began to genuinely believe they had attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London together.
“I keep making the mistake and saying that he went to (RADA),” she shared with The Hollywood Reporter.
Erivo continued, “In my head, I feel I’ve known him for such a long time that in my head we went to the same school. One day, he was like, ‘Cyn, you keep telling people that we went to RADA together, but I didn’t go to RADA.'”
In reality, Bailey never actually attended drama school. However, he boasts significant theatre credits, including Company, Les Misérables, and Richard II, having been discovered by the Royal Shakespeare Company at a ballet class when he was just seven years old.
The Outsider actress lauded her co-star’s strong work ethic, remarking, “He loves working. Loves it! He’s always searching for something, but he’s playful at the same time, so the air is always light when you’re around him.”
It’s worth noting that Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey are set to reunite on screen for the second part of the Wicked musical, titled Wicked: For Good, which is scheduled for release on November 21, 2025.
