Cynthia Erivo | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Erivo in 2025 | |
| Born | Cynthia Chinasaokwu Onyedinmanasu Amarachukwu Owezuke Echimino Erivo[1] (1987-01-08)8 January 1987 (age 38) Stockwell, London, England |
| Alma mater | Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Awards | Full list |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Website | www |
Musical artist | |
Cynthia Chinasaokwu Onyedinmanasu Amarachukwu Owezuke Echimino Erivo (/əˈriːvoʊ/ ⓘə-REE-voh;[2] born 8 January 1987) is an English actress and singer-songwriter. Known for her work on both stage and screen, she is the recipient ofseveral accolades and one of few individuals nominated foran Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony Award (EGOT), winning all but the Oscar.
Erivo made herWest End debut in the stage musicalThe Umbrellas of Cherbourg (2011). She later made herBroadway debut playing Celie in the musical revival ofThe Color Purple (2015–2017). Erivo's work for the production won her theTony Award for Best Actress in a Musical andGrammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, as well as aDaytime Emmy Award. She expanded to films in 2018 with the crime thrillersWidows andBad Times at the El Royale. Erivo earned nominations for theAcademy Award for Best Actress for portrayingHarriet Tubman inHarriet (2019) andElphaba inWicked (2024), as well as a nomination forBest Original Song for the song "Stand Up" from the former.
On television, Erivo portrayedHolly Gibney in theHBO crime drama miniseriesThe Outsider (2020) andAretha Franklin inNational Geographic's anthology seriesGenius: Aretha (2021); the latter earned her a nomination for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. As a singer, she has released singles as well as two solo albums in 2021 and 2025.
Erivo was born on 8 January 1987[3][4][5][6] toIgbo[7]Nigerian immigrant parents inStockwell, London, England.[8] Her mother Edith was 15 years old when theNigerian Civil War broke out, with Erivo saying that "she's not necessarily a refugee, but [...] her home was ravaged, and they were on the run to find safety."[9] Both of Erivo's parents arrived in the UK in their early twenties and they separated when she was very young.[10] Following this, she and her younger sister Stephanie were raised by their mother, a nurse.[10][11] They were disowned by their father when Erivo was 16 and she remains estranged from him.[12] She named her production company Edith's Daughter as a tribute to her mother.[13]
Erivo attendedLa Retraite Roman Catholic Girls' School inClapham Park.[12] As a child, she had roles inBrecht'sCaucasian Chalk Circle, and later appeared on television inTrust Me, I'm a Teenager.[3] Herconfirmation name isPerpetua.[14] She began a music psychology degree at theUniversity of East London in 2004.[3] However, a year into her degree, she applied to theRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and transferred there upon acceptance.[15][16] She graduated from RADA with a bachelor's degree in acting in 2010.[3]
Erivo first appeared in roles on British television programmes such asChewing Gum andThe Tunnel. Her first stage role was inMarine Parade bySimon Stephens at theBrighton Festival.[17] Her first musical role was inJohn Adams' andJune Jordan'sI Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky atTheatre Royal Stratford East.[18] On Sunday, 9 December 2012, Cynthia appeared in Alexander S. Bermange's and Stephen Clark'sLiving Every Day, which was performed as part ofThe 24 Hour Musicals Celebrity Gala at theOld Vic inLondon’s West End.
In 2013, Erivo played the role of Celie Harris in theMenier Chocolate Factory production ofThe Color Purple,[19][20] a role whichWhoopi Goldberg originated onscreen. Erivo had previously portrayed Sister Mary Clarence / Deloris Van Cartier in a UK tour of the stage musicalSister Act,[21] which Goldberg had also originated in its film adaptation. She is also featured on the soundtrack to the musical drama filmBeyond the Lights, co-writing and performing the song "Fly Before You Fall".[8]
Erivo originated the role of Chenice in theWest EndmusicalI Can't Sing!,[22] which opened at theLondon Palladium on 26 March 2014, garnering mixed reviews.[23][24] The production closed on 10 May, just six weeks and three days after its official opening night.[24][25] Erivo starred in the European premiere ofDessa Rose at London'sTrafalgar Studios from July to August 2014, for which she was nominated as Best Leading Actress in a musical at the 2015BroadwayWorld UK Awards.[26]
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She made herBroadway debut in the 2015 revival transfer of theMenier Chocolate Factory production ofThe Color Purple,[27] reprising her role as Celie Harris alongside American actressesJennifer Hudson as Shug Avery andDanielle Brooks as Sofia.[28] The production began performances atBernard B. Jacobs Theatre, from 10 December 2015.[29] Her performance earned her acclaim across the board withThe New York Times declaring, "Ms. Erivo's sobering and stirring portrayal of Celie, in a rapturously reviewed revival ofThe Color Purple... has brought the kind of praise that can change a performer's career".[30] She wonseveral awards for her performance, including the 2016Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.[31]
Erivo starred as Cathy alongsideJoshua Henry in a one-night benefit concert performance ofJason Robert Brown'sThe Last Five Years on 12 September 2016. Proceeds from the performance went to theBrady Center, a national gun violence organisation.[32] In February 2017, at the59th Annual Grammy Awards, Erivo performed "God Only Knows" alongsideJohn Legend, as a tribute to musicians who had died over the past year.[33]
In March 2017, Erivo and the cast ofThe Color Purple were nominated for aDaytime Emmy Award for their performance on NBC'sThe Today Show in May 2016.[34] In April 2017, it was announced that Erivo and the cast ofThe Color Purple alongsideThe Today Show won the Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Award in the Outstanding Musical Performance in a Daytime Program category. In November 2017, she appeared on the charity benefitNight of Too Many Stars, hosted byJon Stewart, where she performed a duet with frequent contributorJodi DiPiazza of theAndra Day hit "Rise Up" they were accompanied byQuestlove andThe Roots.[35]
Erivo made her film debut in 2018 in the neo-noir thriller filmBad Times at the El Royale.[36]Justin Chang of theLos Angeles Times deemed Erivo's performance "revelatory in the most rewarding sense".[37] That same year, she also starred in theSteve McQueen directed heist thriller filmWidows, which marked the first film she had ever shot.[38] In his review of the film forThe Atlantic, David Sims highlighted Erivo's "incredible work" in portraying her character's dramatic transformation.[39] In 2019, Erivo produced and starred in the scripted science fiction thriller podcastCarrier, voicing the lead role of Raylene Watts, a long-haul truck driver transporting a trailer with "disturbing, mysterious contents".[40]
Erivo portrayed the title role inHarriet, a biographical film about American abolitionistHarriet Tubman.[41][42] The film began production in October 2018,[43] completed filming in January 2019, and was released on 1 November 2019.[44] David Rooney ofThe Hollywood Reporter wrote that Erivo "is a powerful physical presence in the title role" adding that "[she] hits all the requisite notes of flintiness and selfless bravery born of suffering, determination and rage".[45] Her performance earned her a nomination for theGolden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama;[46] she also received a second nomination forBest Original Song for a song she co-wrote and performed for the film entitled "Stand Up".[47] In 2020, Erivo garnered nominations for twoAcademy Awards–one forBest Actress for her portrayal of Tubman and the other forBest Original Song for "Stand Up".[48]
In 2020, Erivo starred as investigatorHolly Gibney in theHBO miniseriesThe Outsider, a television adaptation ofStephen King's novelof the same name.[49][50] That same year, she launched a production company named Edith's Daughter as well as signed a deal with media companyMRC to develop television projects through the production company.[51][52] She appeared in the science fiction filmChaos Walking, based onPatrick Ness' novelThe Knife of Never Letting Go, which was released on 5 March 2021.[53] Erivo portrayed singerAretha Franklin in the third season of the anthology seriesGenius, which premiered in March 2021.[54] She released two songs titled "The Good" and "Glowing Up" to promote her debut studio album,Ch. 1 Vs. 1, which was released on 7 September 2021.[55][56] That same month, she joined the jury of the78th Venice International Film Festival.[57]
In July 2022, Erivo performed as part of theBBC Proms, singing tributes to women who have inspired her.[58][59] Writing inThe Times, John Bungey highlighted her performances of the songs "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and "Ain't No Way".[60] That same year she performed a medley ofStephen Sondheim songs as part of the In Memoriam segment at the64th Annual Grammy Awards alongsideRachel Zegler,Leslie Odom Jr. andBen Platt. Althea Legaspi ofRolling Stone described it as both "moving" and "fitting" tribute.[61]
Erivo playedThe Blue Fairy in Disney's2022 live-action film adaptation ofPinocchio, directed byRobert Zemeckis.[62] Despite the film receiving negative reviews,[63][64] Christy Lemire ofRogerebert.com wrote of her performance that, "Erivo is such a majestic sight to behold, you’ll wish there were more of her here".[65] Also in 2022 she performed the song "Edelweiss" from the musicalThe Sound of Music in tribute toJulie Andrews who received theAFI Life Achievement Award.[66]
In 2023, she appeared in theNetflix crime thrillerLuther: The Fallen Sun, a film continuation of the crime drama seriesLuther starringIdris Elba.[67] In the same year Erivo portrayed Jacqueline, a refugee during a war-torn Africa, in the filmDrift. Erivo said to have taken inspiration from her mother's experience as a refugee during the Nigerian Civil War for this role.[9] She was also a producer for the film.[13] The following year she played Petra, a bold and flirtatious maid, in theLincoln Center concert production ofStephen Sondheim'sA Little Night Music atDavid Geffen Hall.[68] She paid tribute toDionne Warwick at theKennedy Center Honors where she sang a rendition of "Alfie" from the1966 film of the same name.[69]
Erivo portrayedElphaba in the musical fantasy filmWicked (2024), which served as the first part of atwo-film adaptation of themusical play.[70][71] The film'saccompanying soundtrack album was co-billed to Erivo, who performed seven songs from the musical.[72] It debuted at number two on the USBillboard 200 chart and gave Erivo her first UK top-ten hit with her rendition of "Defying Gravity".[73][74] Erivo earned acclaim for the role, with Wendy Ide ofThe Guardian writing "Erivo is terrific, her rich, velvety voice cracking under the weight of rejections and ridicule suffered by Elphaba."[75] For her performance, Erivo received nominations for Best Actress at theGolden Globes,British Academy Film Awards,Screen Actors Guild Awards (where she also received a nomination forOutstanding Performance by a Cast), andAcademy Awards.[76][77][78][79] Her Academy Award nomination made her the second black actress afterViola Davis to have been nominated for Best Actress more than once.[80]
In May 2025, it was announced that Erivo would be returning to the West End in a one-woman play adaptation ofDracula, where she would play all 23 roles. It will play at theNoël Coward Theatre for a limited 16-week engagement from 4 February to 31 May 2026. The play is being produced by Michael Cassel and Adam Kenwright, who both produced the production ofThe Picture of Dorian Gray, whereSarah Snook played all the roles in the show. The play will also feature an original song towards the end of the production, which will be composed by Clemence Williams.[81]
On 8 June 2025 Erivo hosted the78th Tony Awards where she received positive reviews withDeadline Hollywood declaring, "[She] did an absolutely flawless job as host, no nitpicking whatsoever. This is what an awards show should look like".[82]Entertainment Weekly cited her as one of the show's highlights saying, "From the opening seconds, Erivo defied expectations" adding, "Throughout the ceremony, she played to her strengths and it made for a superb outing as a host ".[83] The ceremony was the highest watched Tonys ceremony in six years.[84][85]
In August 2025, Erivo starred as the title role in a revival ofJesus Christ Superstar for a three-night run at theHollywood Bowl.[86][87]
Erivo isCatholic and has been described as "episodicallyvegan".[88] She identifies asqueer andbisexual.[89][90] Erivo previously dated actorDean John-Wilson from 2013 to 2017,[88][91] and she has been dating actress and producerLena Waithe from late 2024.[92][93]
In 2024, Erivo was appointed vice president of heralma mater, theRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art.[94]
| † | Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Widows | Belle | ||
| Bad Times at the El Royale | Darlene Sweet | |||
| 2019 | Harriet | Harriet Tubman | ||
| 2021 | Chaos Walking | Hildy | ||
| Needle in a Timestack | Janine Mikkelsen | |||
| 2022 | Pinocchio | The Blue Fairy | ||
| 2023 | Drift | Jacqueline | Also producer | |
| Luther: The Fallen Sun | Odette Raine | |||
| 2024 | Wicked | Elphaba Thropp | ||
| 2025 | Wicked: For Good | |||
| 2027 | Children of Blood and Bone† | Admiral Kaea | Post-production | |
| Bad Fairies† | Jayne Staplegun | [95] | ||
| TBA | Karoshi† | TBA | Post-production | |
| Prima Facie† | Tessa | Post-production[96] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Chewing Gum | Magdalene | Episode: "Tolled Road" | |
| 2016 | Mr Selfridge | Alberta Hunter | 2 episodes | |
| The Tunnel | Mel | Episode #2.3 | ||
| 2017–2019 | Broad City | Lisa | 2 episodes | |
| 2018 | The Boss Baby: Back in Business | Turtleneck Superstar CEO Baby (voice) | Episode: "As the Diaper Changes" | |
| 2019 | Anthem: Homunculus | Joan | 3 episodes | |
| Sunny Day | Dr. Vanessa (voice) | 1 episode | ||
| 2020 | The Outsider | Holly Gibney | Regular role (8 episodes) | |
| James and the Giant Peach with Taika and Friends | Ladybird | 1 episode | ||
| American Idol | Herself | Episode: "316 (On With the Show: Grand Finale)" | ||
| 2021 | Genius | Aretha Franklin | Lead role (8 episodes) | |
| RuPaul's Drag Race | Herself (guest judge) | Episode: "Henny, I Shrunk the Drag Queens!" | ||
| Strictly Come Dancing | Herself (guest judge) | 2 episodes | ||
| 2022 | Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock | The Archivist (voice) | Episode: "The Glow" | |
| Roar | Ambia | Episode: "The Woman Who Found Bite Marks on Her Skin" | ||
| 2023 | Star Wars: Visions | Kratu (voice) | Episode: "Aau's Song" | |
| Blue's Clues & You! | Jingles (voice) | Episode: "Josh and Blue's Ice Cream Shoppe" | ||
| HouseBroken | Ferris (voice) | Episode: "Who's Nocturnal?" | ||
| Strange Planet | Dreamer (voice) | Episode: "Key Change" | ||
| 2024 | Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur | Dr. Akonam Ojo (voice) | Episode: "Make It, Don't Break It!" | |
| 2025 | RoboGobo | The Slink (voice) | Recurring role[97] | |
| The Voice | Herself/Advisor | Season 27 for TeamBublé | ||
| Poker Face | Amber / Delia / Cece / Bebe / Felicity Price | Episode: "The Game Is a Foot"[98] | ||
| Big Mouth | Missy's Vagina (voice) | Episode: "Everything We Forgot to Tell You About Sex"[99][100] | ||
| 78th Tony Awards | Herself (host) | Television special | ||
| RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars | Herself (guest judge) | [101] | ||
| Strictly Come Dancing | Herself (guest mentor) | [102] | ||
| 2025 | Wicked: One Wonderful Night | Herself - Performer | Television special[103] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Carrier | Raylene Watts | Regular role (6 episodes) | |
| The Two Princes | Queen Malkia of the Midlands | Regular role (5 episodes) | ||
| 2020 | Hank the Cowdog | Madame Moonshine | Regular role (6 episodes) | |
| 2024 | George Orwell's 1984 | Julia |
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US [108] | US R&B/HH [109] | ||
| Ch. 1 Vs. 1 | —[a] | — | |
| I Forgive You |
| 165 | 45 |
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Cynthia Erivo and Oliver Tompsett Sing Scott Alan (withOliver Tompsett andScott Alan) |
|
| Title | Soundtrack album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | Certifications | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK Com. [112] | AUS [113] | CAN [114] | FRA [115] | ITA [116] | NLD [117] | NOR [118] | NZ [119] | SWI [120] | US [121] | ||||
| Wicked: The Soundtrack (withWicked Movie Cast andAriana Grande) | 1 | 3 | 9 | 38 | 42 | 9 | 26 | 3 | 37 | 2 |
| ||
| Wicked: For Good – The Soundtrack (withWicked Movie Cast and Ariana Grande) |
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Title | Live album details |
|---|---|
| Wicked: One Wonderful Night (Live) – The Soundtrack (withAriana Grande) |
|
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| She Is Risen, Vol. 2 (withMorgan James,Shoshana Bean,Debbie Gravitte, Bryonha Marie Parham, Ellyn Marie Marsh,Ann Harada,Tamika Lawrence,Bridget Everett,Marva Hicks,Eden Espinosa, and A Broader Way Choir) |
|
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [74] | AUS [124] | CAN [125] | IRE [74] | NZ Hot [126] | SWE Heat. [127] | US [128] | US R&B Dig. [129] | WW [130] | |||||
| "Fly Before You Fall" | 2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | — | Beyond the Lights (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | ||
| "God Only Knows" (withJohn Legend featuring yMusic) | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20 | — | Non-album single | ||
| "Stand Up" | 2019 | — | — | —[c] | — | — | 2 | —[d] | — | — | Harriet (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | ||
| "When You Believe" (withShoshana Bean featuring Stephen Schwartz) | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||
| "The Good" | 2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Ch. 1 Vs. 1 | ||
| "Glowing Up" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "Defying Gravity" (featuringAriana Grande) | 2024 | 7 | 31 | 63 | 12 | 6 | — | 44 | — | 41 |
| Wicked: The Soundtrack | |
| "Replay" | 2025 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | I Forgive You | ||
| "Worst of Me" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "Everytime You Go Away"[134] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | John Candy: I Like Me | |||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||
| Song | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Won't Let You Down" (Cynikal featuring Cynthia Erivo) | 2012 | Non-album singles |
| "I Did Something Bad (cover)" (Shoshana Bean featuring Cynthia Erivo) | 2018 | |
| "Together (Soundtrack from Year in Search)" (Peter CottonTale featuringChance the Rapper, Cynthia Erivo, Chicago Children's Choir, and Matt Jones Re-Collective Orchestra) | 2020 | |
| "Chain of Fools" (Genius: Aretha cast featuring Cynthia Erivo) | 2021 |
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [74] | AUS [135] | CAN [125] | IRE [74] | NZ Hot [126] | US [128] | US Hol. Dig. [136] | WW [130] | ||||
| "Angels We Have Heard on High" (Lea Michele featuring Cynthia Erivo) | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 22 | — | Christmas in the City | |
| "The Wizard and I" (featuringMichelle Yeoh) | 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | 92 | — | — | Wicked: The Soundtrack | |
| "What Is This Feeling?" (withAriana Grande) | 17 | 58 | 87 | 28 | 9 | 62 | — | 83 |
| ||
| "Dancing Through Life" (Jonathan Bailey featuring Ariana Grande,Ethan Slater,Marissa Bode and Cynthia Erivo) | —[e] | — | — | — | 12 | 86 | — | — | |||
| "I'm Not That Girl" | — | — | — | — | — | 94 | — | — | |||
| "One Short Day" (with Ariana Grande,Kristin Chenoweth andIdina Menzel featuring Michael McCorry Rose) | — | — | — | — | — | —[f] | — | — | |||
| "For Good"(Live from the Gershwin Theatre) (with Ariana Grande, Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth) | 2025 | — | — | — | — | — | 37 | — | — | Wicked: One Wonderful Night | |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||
| Song | Year | Other artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Suddenly" | 2013 | Anderson & Petty | You Are Home: The Songs of Anderson & Petty |
| "Fly Before You Fall" | 2014 | N/A | Beyond the Lights (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |
| "Bridge Over Troubled Water" | 2016 | Alison Jiear | Inspirational |
| "Jump" | 2017 | N/A | Step (Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture) |
| "When You Wish Upon a Star" | Vera Lynn,Leigh Harline, &Manning Sherwin | Vera Lynn 100 | |
| "Alright" | 2018 | Anthony Ramos | The Freedom EP |
| "My Funny Valentine" | Billy Porter | Billy Porter Presents: The Soul of Richard Rodgers | |
| "Nobody" | Todrick Hall &Jade Novah | Forbidden | |
| "Si Pudiera Leer Tus Sueños" | N/A | Singing You Home: Children's Songs for Family Reunification | |
| "Hold On I'm Coming" | Bad Times at the El Royale (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | ||
| "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak For You)" | |||
| "Angels We Have Heard on High" | 2019 | Lea Michele | Christmas in the City |
| "Goodbye Song" | Terence Blanchard | Harriet (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | |
| "I Don't Know How to Love Him" | 2020 | — | She is Risen: Volume One |
| "Winter Song" | Leslie Odom Jr. | The Christmas Album | |
| "Inside" | 2021 | Logic | Bobby Tarantino III |
| "Intro (feat. Cynthia Erivo)" | 2024 | Flo | Access All Areas |
Throughout her career, Erivo has received aDaytime Emmy Award, aGrammy Award, and aTony Award, and has been nominated for threeAcademy Awards, twoBritish Academy Film Awards, fourGolden Globe Awards, and twoScreen Actors Guild Awards.
For the Broadway revival ofThe Color Purple, Erivo won the 2016Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.[140] The following year, she and the cast ofThe Color Purple won theDaytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Musical Performance in a Daytime Program[141] and theGrammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.[142]
