Cynthia Erivo’s 2025 Academy Awards Dress Honors a Past Oscar Winner

Yes, Cynthia Erivo’s 2025 Oscars dress was Wicked-inspired — but it actually has a much deeper meaning.

Erivo, 38, turned heads as she attended the Academy Awards on Sunday, March 2, in a billowing custom dark green Louis Vuitton gown paired with Roberto Coin jewelry. While fans were quick to speculate the look was an ode to Elphaba, her stylist Jason Bolden offered a further explanation.

“Tonight is for [Hattie] McDaniel,” Bolden wrote in an Instagram Story as Erivo walked the red carpet. “Hope this Dress Makes You Proud!! Love Jason & Cynthia.”

Hattie McDaniel made history as the first Black actress to be nominated for and win an Academy Award. She took home the Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 1939 for her role as Mammy in Gone With the Wind.

Erivo’s decision to honor the late McDaniel, who died at age 59 in 1952, comes amid her own Oscars nomination. The triple threat is up for Best Actress in a Leading Role after portraying Elphaba in Wicked, which was released late last year. (Wicked is up for a total of 10 awards during tonight’s ceremony.)

“Moments like this don’t come along very often, and when they do, it is sacrilege to let them pass by without a moment of gratitude,” Erivo wrote via Instagram in January after hearing the news of her Oscar nomination. “I am grateful, grateful to @theacademy, grateful to be a part of something that makes people feel seen, grateful to be a cog in the wheel of a piece that makes us believe in magic, grateful to have experienced a dream come true, and deeply deeply grateful for this unbelievable recognition.”

Erivo continued. “I often get asked what I would say to my younger self. Well today there’s nothing to be said. She is smiling, beaming, glowing from ear to ear. That speaks volumes.”

Her caption also included a sweet message to Ariana Grande, who is nominated in the Best Actress in a Supporting Role category for her role as Glinda in Wicked.

“To my sister, @arianagrande, what a joy it is to be here with you watching as you ascend and amaze and become the actress you were meant to be,” Erivo wrote. “Congratulations first time nominee, I’m so so proud of you!! There is no one in the world I would have wanted to do this with more than you.”

Her caption concluded: “Thank you @jonmchu, our fearless leader whose kindness provided us with the room to play, you are deserving of all good things and I’m lucky to call you my brother. Marc, Winnie, Stephen, Universal fam, Wicked fam!!! LETS GO!!!”