Drew Barrymore and Cynthia Erivo get candid on physical communication.
The “Wicked” star, 37, explained on Tuesday’s episode of “The Drew Barrymore Show” why she and costar Ariana Grande, 31, are continuously in close physical contact and how they use it as a way to deliver messages to each other during subtly during conversations.
Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande in “Wicked.” Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection“Is it true that [Grande] is as touchy? I’m so touchy,” Barrymore, 49, admitted. “People have to warn me, they’re like, ‘Back off a little bit.’ And I’m like, ‘Why?’”
Drew Barrymore and Cynthia Erivo understand that physical communication can be just as important as verbal. The Drew Barrymore Show
“The Drew Barrymore Show” with Cynthia Erivo. The Drew Barrymore Show/Ash BeanThe talk show host has been known for her up close and personal interview style, which includes holding guests’ hands during interviews and hugging them throughout the show.
Barrymore confessed that she is working on her “proximity” and trying to maintain a good amount of “physical distance” from guests during the current fifth season.
But when it came to Erivo’s interview, the “Harriet” actress was totally fine with Barrymore wanting to hold hands throughout their conversation.
Drew Barrymore and Cynthia Erivo. The Drew Barrymore Show
Drew Barrymore and Cynthia Erivo get close during the morning talk show. The Drew Barrymore Show“I’m the welcoming Capricorn,” Erivo teased. “It’s like, ‘I love you. You can touch.’”
She went on to note that between filming “Wicked” and going on a press tour with Grande, the two became accustomed to being attached.
“If [we’re] not connected, I’m like, ‘What’s wrong? What’s happening? Where are you?’ You know what I mean?” Erivo inquired. “We walk hand in hand very often. Like, if we’re not walking hand in hand, we’ll find each other somewhere.”
“The Drew Barrymore Show” on Tuesday with the host and guest Cynthia Erivo. The Drew Barrymore Show/Ash BeanWhich is a dream-like scenario for Barrymore.
“That’s how I want life to be,” she quipped. “Because physical connection… I’m single. I’m not dating anyone. I don’t have that in my life, but I don’t know how I would ever hold back from holding hands, hugging, snuggling.”
As Erivo puts it, people let fear get in the way.
“I think we get a bit afraid of physical connection,” she explained. “I think we assume that physical connection can only be romantic.”
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo attend the Universal Pictures special New York City “Wicked” screening. Getty Images for Universal Pictures
Ariana Grande on “The Drew Barrymore Show.” The Drew Barrymore Show/Ash BeanErivo acknowledged that reaching out can be a silent way of communicating about your feelings, without speaking, at a given moment.
“Sometimes you can’t say anything and you’re in a room and… it’s just a squeeze of the hand,” she said. “And that’s sometimes how [Grande] and I communicate, we might be talking to someone, or I might need to communicate something to her and it’s just a squeeze of the hand or just a pinch of a finger, or a hug.”
Kamala Harris interview on “The Drew Barrymore Show.” The Drew Barrymore Show/YouTube
Drew Barrymore gets close to Rosemarie DeWitt.
Erivo added, “However we need to communicate, it’s how we need to communicate. And I think we don’t give enough credit to how we communicate with our friends physically.”
And yes, Barrymore is fully on board. “I think if we could all be more comfortable with physical touch, I would like that world,” the actress concluded.
