Cynthia Erivo pays tribute to Hollywood icon Hattie McDaniel in stunning velvet green gown at 2025 Oscars
WICKED star Cynthia Erivo pays tribute to trailblazing icon Hattie McDaniel as she stuns in a velvet green gown at the 2025 Oscars.
Erivo, 38, is nominated for Best Actress for her role as Elphaba in the blockbuster film Wicked.
In 1939, McDaniel became the first African American to win an Academy Award, winning an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind.
Erivo’s stylist, Jason Bolden, paid homage to the legendary Academy Award winner, writing in an Instagram story, “Tonight is for Hattie McDaniel.
“Hope this Dress Makes You Proud!! Love Jason & Cynthia.”
Erivo’s gorgeous forest Louis Vuitton dress suited her character in Wicked, which is up for a staggering 10 Academy Awards.
“We wanted a nod to Oz, we wanted a nod to green, we wanted a nod to Old Hollywood,” the actress said of her look to E! on the red carpet.
“It was something I always wanted.
“I wanted a big dress for the Oscars, if I made it here.
“And here we are in this wonderful big giant dress and I feel amazing in it.”
Erivo completed her stunning outfit with detailed nails done by manicurist Mycah Dior.
Like her dress, Erivo’s nail, which were made by hand, also acknowledges Oz and Emerald City.
Erivo’s co-star, Ariana Grande, shined as she walked the red carpet in a champagne corseted Schiaparelli ball gown.
The dress has a structured gold corset with a wide peplum sitting at the hips – where layers of sparkling gold tulle fell to the ground.
The pop star’s longtime stylist, Mimi Cuttrell, had the gown customized for Grande to be more “Glinda-fied” – adding soft pink details with more than 190,000 crystal sequins, rhinestones, and cut beads in the skirt.
Designer Daniel Roseberry used silk to make the bodice – which was inspired by an Alberto Giacometti lamp to create the shape at the dress’ waist.
BIG FIVE OSCARS NOMINEES 2025
BEST PICTURE
- Anora
- The Brutalist
- A Complete Unknown
- Conclave
- Dune: Part Two
- Emilia Pérez
- I’m Still Here
- Nickel Boys
- Wicked
- The Substance
BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
- Adrien Brody – The Brutalist
- Timothée Chalamet – A Complete Unknown
- Colman Domingo – Sing Sing
- Ralph Fiennes – Conclave
- Sebastian Stan – The Apprentice
BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
- Cynthia Erivo – Wicked
- Karla Sofía Gascón – Emilia Pérez
- Mikey Madison – Anora
- Demi Moore – The Substance
- Fernanda Torres – I’m Still Here
BEST SCREENPLAY
- Adapted Screenplay: A Complete Unknown (James Mangold and Jay Cocks), Conclave (Peter Straughan), Emilia Pérez ( Jacques Audiard; In collaboration with Thomas Bidegain, Léa Mysius and Nicolas Livecchi), Nickel Boys (RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes), Sing Sing (Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar; Story by Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin, John “Divine G” Whitfield)
- Original Screenplay: Anora (Sean Baker), The Brutalist (Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold), A Real Pain (Jesse Eisenberg), September 5 (Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum; Co-Written by Alex David), The Substance (Coralie Fargeat)
BEST DIRECTOR
- Anora – Sean Baker
- The Brutalist – Brady Corbet
- A Complete Unknown – James Mangold
- Emilia Pérezn – Jacques Audiard
- The Substance – Coralie Fargeat
The Wicked co-stars opened up the ceremony with a performance from their Oscars-nominated film.
Grande sang Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz, while Erivo performed Home from The Wiz.
The duo then broke in Defying Gravity from their film Wicked.