Michelle Yeoh Praises “Wicked” Costar Cynthia Erivo: ‘If Anyone Can Be Jesus Christ, It’s Cynthia’ (Exclusive)

Michelle Yeoh, renowned actress, commends Cynthia Erivo for her exceptional performance in ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ (Exclusive)

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Michelle Yeoh Praises Wicked Costar Cynthia Erivo: ‘If Anyone Can Be Jesus Christ, It’s Cynthia’ (Exclusive)
Yeoh tells PEOPLE that her ‘Wicked’ costar was ‘so amazing’ in ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ at the Hollywood Bowl
By Jen Juneau
Jen Juneau is a News and Movies Staff Writer at PEOPLE. She started at the brand in 2016 and has more than 15 years’ professional writing experience. People Editorial Guidelines
and Lizzie Hyman
Lizzie Hyman is a Writer-Reporter for PEOPLE, where she contributes in-depth features and covers entertainment and news across both print and digital platforms. People Editorial Guidelines
Published on August 18, 2025 02:06PM EDT
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Cynthia Erivo; Michelle Yeoh. Credit : Adam Lambert/Instagram; Eric Charbonneau/A24 via Getty

NEED TO KNOW
Michelle Yeoh sang her Wicked costar Cynthia Erivo’s live-theater praises in a recent chat with PEOPLE surrounding the upcoming release of Ne Zha II’s English-language version
Speaking about Erivo’s recent appearance in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, Yeoh says, “If anyone can be Jesus Chris, it’s Cynthia Erivo”
The actress’s movie Wicked: For Good premieres in theaters Nov. 21
Michelle Yeoh understands the divine talent of Cynthia Erivo. During a recent chat with PEOPLE surrounding the upcoming release of Ne Zha II’s English-language version, Yeoh sang her Wicked costar’s praises after watching her perform in Jesus Christ Superstar earlier this month.
“She was so amazing. She really was,” says Yeoh, 63, adding with a laugh, “If anyone can be Jesus Christ, it’s Cynthia Erivo.”
Erivo, 38, led the cast of the musical production at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles earlier this month, opposite Adam Lambert as Judas and John Stamos as King Herod, among others. Sharing the news of her casting on her Instagram Stories in February, Erivo expressed her excitement for the role.
“Just a little busy this summer,” she wrote at the time, alongside a winking emoji. “Can’t wait!!”
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Cynthia Erivo with Michelle Yeoh; Emilie Livingston, Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Yeoh. Michelle Yeoh/Instagram

It was quite the Wicked reunion during the performance for Yeoh. Aside from catching up with Erivo, she also connected with costar Jeff Goldblum, who plays the Wizard, and his wife Emilie Goldblum. The couple joined Yeoh for one of the photos in the slideshow she posted to Instagram on Aug. 3, showing off some standout moments from the performance the night before.
Michelle Yeoh in Wicked. Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures
Ahead of the release of Wicked: For Good on Nov. 21, Yeoh is celebrating the upcoming premiere of the English-language version of Ne Zha II, the Chinese box-office phenomenon that currently stands as the highest-grossing animated movie of all time. Yeoh, who lends her voice to Lady Yin in the film, tells PEOPLE that the story — which is inspired by the 16th-century Chinese folklore novel The Investiture of the Gods — resonates on a deeper level, due to its cultural significance.
“It is so important as a cultural exchange; an opening for more Chinese stories that need to be told,” she says. “Especially the mythological side of it. We’re so rich in lore with the three realms: the heavens, the earth and the seas.”
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Yeoh also says she felt “privileged” to be a part of Ne Zha II, as the title protagonist “has always been one of my favourite characters because he fought injustice.”
“I think from the minute he was born, he felt very rejected,” she explains. “When I was a kid, I used to be so fascinated and inspired by this spunky kid riding on firewheels. I wanted to be that cool demigod that fought for justice.”
The English-language version of Ne Zha II is in theaters Friday, Aug. 22.
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