Cynthia Erivo

Cynthia Erivo is a British actor whose work spans stage, film, and television. She began her career in British television with appearances in Chewing Gum and The Tunnel, and made her stage debut in Marine Parade at the Brighton Festival. Her early musical theatre credits include I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky at Theatre Royal Stratford East and performances at the Old Vic as part of The 24 Hour Musicals.

In 2013, Erivo starred as Celie Harris in The Color Purple at London’s Menier Chocolate Factory, a role she reprised in the 2015 Broadway transfer, marking her Broadway debut. She later appeared in concert productions of The Last Five Years and A Little Night Music at Lincoln Center. Her additional stage work includes Sister Act, I Can’t Sing!, and Dessa Rose.t End and a revival of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl.

Erivo made her feature film debut in Bad Times at the El Royale (2018) and appeared later that year in Widows. Her film credits also include Harriet, in which she portrayed Harriet Tubman, Chaos Walking, Pinocchio, Luther: The Fallen Sun, Drift, and Wicked and Wicked: For Good, in which she stars as Elphaba.

Her television work includes starring roles in The Outsider and Genius: Aretha, where she portrayed Aretha Franklin. In addition to acting, Erivo has hosted major live events, including the 78th Tony Awards.

In August 2025, Erivo starred as the title role in a revival of Jesus Christ Superstar for a three-night run at the Hollywood Bowl. In May 2025, it was announced that Erivo would return to the West End in a one-woman adaptation of Dracula, performing all 23 roles. It will play at the Noël Coward Theatre for a limited 16-week engagement from 4 February to 31 May 2026.

Erivo earned nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actress for portraying Harriet Tubman in Harriet (2019) and Elphaba in Wicked (2024), as well as a nomination for Best Original Song for the song "Stand Up" from the former. For reprising her role as Elphaba in Wicked: For Good (2025), she became the first black actress to be nominated twice for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globe Awards.