EXCLUSIVE: Cynthia Erivo Sparks Fresh Anorexia Fears By Training for Marathon — At Same Time as Performing 28 Parts in Epic 'Dracula' Play
Cynthia Erivo's intense work schedule has sparked concern.
April 3 2026, Published 3:00 p.m. ET
Cynthia Erivo has prompted concern among friends and fans after revealing she is juggling intense marathon training with a demanding one-woman stage performance, as insiders warn the workload risks pushing her to physical limits.
As RadarOnline.com has reported, Erivo, 39, is currently starring in a solo West End production of Dracula, performing 28 characters across a script of roughly 20,000 words while simultaneously preparing for the London Marathon.
'There Is Growing Unease' About Cynthia Erivo's Work Schedule
Erivo revealed her intense schedule of marathon training and stage performances.
Speaking on This Morning, she described the scale of the challenge and the support she has received from her Wicked co-stars, including Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, and Jeff Goldblum, as she balances performing, rehearsal, and endurance training.
A source close to the production told us: "There is growing unease behind the scenes about how much she is taking on at once – it is an extraordinary workload that would test even the most seasoned performers."
Another insider added: "The concern is not about her commitment, which is unquestionable, but whether the pace she is maintaining is sustainable over time without consequences for her health."
Ariana Grande texted Erivo frequently to express her concern about her lack of rest.
Erivo said about the backing she has received from her Wicked co-stars: "Jeff came, Jonathan came. I think everyone's sort of like trickling in. I got some really beautiful messages, and Jonathan is constantly texting to make sure I'm okay. Ari is very, very worried that I'm not resting enough, so she's consistently texting.
"Jeff sent the most beautiful love letter, and he does. I love Jeff very, very much, and Jonathan, that everyone's so lovely, it feels like we have a little bit of a family."
The Physical and Mental Toll of 'Dracula'
Erivo memorized her lines for her 'Dracula' production while she ran during her endurance training.
The Dracula production requires Erivo to shift rapidly between roles while maintaining emotional intensity, a process she said demands precise preparation and focus.
She said: "I learn it in chunks. What you have to do is learn it with a reason. So I have to know where (the characters) are and what they're doing and why they're saying things, and that's the only way I can commit it to memory. You learn it almost like a dancer."
Alongside rehearsals and performances, Erivo is training for the marathon with a target time of under three hours and 30 minutes, incorporating line memorization into her runs.
She said: "Whilst I'm running, I run the run lines in my head. I'm trying to make good use of every moment."
'There Is Worry Now'
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Erivo described the difficulty of switching off her brain after a late-night show.
A source familiar with her schedule said: "She is effectively layering two elite disciplines on top of each other – endurance sport and high-intensity performance – both of which demand recovery time. That's where the anxiety is coming from among those close to her.
"Cynthia has always been skinny, but there is a worry now that she is getting dangerously skinny, and people have been saying she looks anorexic on stage, as there is just very little to her. She is burning up huge amounts of energy between the play and running. People around her are proud, but also quietly worried that she is not giving herself enough space to rest and reset."
Erivo also described the toll the performances take once she leaves the stage: "There's so much poured into it, emotionally, physically, mentally, everything is switched on. I don't switch off at all.
"Everything is on, and everything is firing all the time so that when you come off, you go, 'Where am I? Yeah, am I again?' And so it takes a second to just put everything back together. Yeah, it takes me a while to get to get to sleep. I don't get sleep until like, 1am in the morning."
