Basildon artist creates nails for Cynthia Erivo in Wicked | Global News Avenue

A manicurist says she cried after seeing the nails she created for Cynthia Erivo for the Wicked movie on the big screen.

Shei Osei, 33, from Basildon, Essex, worked with the actress, who has known her for 15 years, to design the nails of her character Elphaba.

She was also asked to do Erivo’s green carpet nails while on London’s South Bank. Become the Emerald City premiere.

“I watched the movie with other people… and I cried. There were a lot of moments that made me cry,” she said.

“I’m very strict with myself when it comes to my job and what I do. I check if I’m wearing it correctly, if I’m shaping it correctly, and if it’s good.”

The 33-year-old started learning to do manicure at the age of 14 and only took it up as a career when he was 18.

She has built a celebrity clientele that includes Candice Brathwaite and Maya Jama, and has done Erivo’s nails for the Netflix film Luther: Fallen Sun.

In 2022, she received a call from Erivo and soon began creating designs.

“Elphaba comes across as a little shy, a little timid at the beginning of the story, not like she does on the outside, but it’s still bold that she’s able to have these subtle green ombre nails,” she said.

“When Elphaba comes into her own world, when she gets to the Emerald City, she’s more confident in who she is… She has this confidence and her nails tell the story. It’s more of a bold design, more ‘This is me’, this is who I am and you accept who I want to be.”

She created more than 35 sets of nail stampings, making sure they were similar in style, color, shape and design, each set taking up to 90 minutes.

“Cynthia outside of Elphaba is someone who loves to do her nails… In the movie, I feel like it tells Elphaba’s story, but Cynthia still feels like her true self throughout the movie,” she said.

“We always knew we wanted the nails to be part of the movie… She’s touching the broom, she’s putting on the hat. You want your nails to match and look good on camera.”

Since filming the film, she has received an “outpouring of love” and global recognition.

“Everyone says they don’t focus on their nails, but on Wicked, they focus on their nails. I’m grateful that my talent is being seen and I hope this gives hope to other manicurists and other beauticians .

“These things don’t happen overnight, and if you keep working hard, you’ll get there eventually,” she said.