Cynthia Erivo
English actress, singer, and songwriter celebrated for her commanding presence on Broadway, in film, and on television across more than 90 credits.
What do we know about Cynthia Erivo?
Here are the key biographical details about Cynthia Erivo:
- Name: Cynthia Erivo
- Also Known As: Cynthia Chinasaokwu Onyedinmanasu Erivo
- Date of Birth: January 8, 1987
- Place of Birth: Stockwell, London, England, UK
- Gender: Female
- Job Title: Actor
- Crew Jobs: Producer, Executive Producer, Songs
Who is Cynthia Erivo?
Cynthia Chinasaokwu Onyedinmanasu Amarachukwu Owezuke Echimino Erivo MBE (/əˈriːvoʊ/ ə-REE-voh; born 8 January 1987) is an English actress, singer, musician, and songwriter. Known for her work on both stage and screen, she is the recipient of several accolades and one of the few individuals nominated for an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony Award (EGOT), winning all but the Oscar.
Erivo made her West End debut in the stage musical The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (2011), and her Broadway debut as Celie in the musical revival of The Color Purple (2015–2017). Erivo's work for The Color Purple won her the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical and Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, as well as a Daytime Emmy Award.
She expanded to films in 2018 with the crime thrillers Widows and Bad Times at the El Royale. 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.
On television, Erivo portrayed Holly Gibney in the HBO crime drama miniseries The Outsider (2020) and Aretha Franklin in National Geographic's anthology series Genius: Aretha (2021); the latter earned her a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. As a singer, she has released singles and two solo albums in 2021 and 2025.
What is Cynthia Erivo known for?
With over 90 credits spanning stage, film, and television, Cynthia Erivo's most celebrated works include:
- Bad Times at the El Royale (2018, Movie)
- Wicked (2024, Movie)
- Chaos Walking (2021, Movie)
- Widows (2018, Movie)
- The Boss Baby: Back in Business (2018, TV Series)
- Pinocchio (2022, Movie)
- The Outsider (2020, TV Series)
- Big Mouth (2017, TV Series)
- Luther: The Fallen Sun (2023, Movie)
- Harriet (2019, Movie)
External Links
Explore more about Cynthia Erivo through the following authoritative sources.