Discover the career path of Cynthia Erivo, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Cynthia Erivo is a highly acclaimed British actress and singer recognized for her exceptional talent across various entertainment mediums. Her accomplishments include a Daytime Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award, in addition to BAFTA, Oscar, and Golden Globe nominations. Erivo is celebrated for her versatility and is notably among the few artists to achieve EGOT nomination recognition, signifying her impact on television, music, and theater.
In 2011, Erivo made her West End debut in the stage musical "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg".
In December 2015, Erivo made her Broadway debut in the revival transfer of "The Color Purple", reprising her role as Celie Harris.
In 2015, Erivo made her Broadway debut playing Celie in the musical revival of "The Color Purple".
In 2016, Erivo won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in "The Color Purple".
In 2016, Erivo won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in "The Color Purple".
In 2017, Erivo won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album for "The Color Purple".
In October 2018, production began for the film "Harriet", in which Erivo portrayed Harriet Tubman.
In 2018, Erivo expanded her career to films with roles in the crime films "Widows" and "Bad Times at the El Royale".
In 2018, Erivo made her film debut in the neo-noir thriller film "Bad Times at the El Royale" and also starred in "Widows".
In January 2019, filming was completed for "Harriet", a film about Harriet Tubman starring Erivo.
On November 1, 2019, the film "Harriet", starring Erivo as Harriet Tubman, was released.
In 2019, Erivo portrayed Harriet Tubman in the biopic "Harriet", receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. She also co-wrote and performed the song "Stand Up" for the film, earning a nomination for Best Original Song.
In 2019, Erivo produced and starred in the scripted science fiction thriller podcast "Carrier".
In 2020, Erivo starred in "The Outsider" and launched her production company, Edith's Daughter.
In 2020, she played Holly Gibney in the HBO crime drama miniseries "The Outsider".
In March 2021, Erivo appeared in "Chaos Walking" and portrayed Aretha Franklin in "Genius: Aretha".
In September 2021, Erivo released her debut studio album, "Ch. 1 Vs. 1" and joined the jury of the 78th Venice International Film Festival.
In 2021, Erivo played Aretha Franklin in National Geographic's "Genius: Aretha", earning a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. She also released her solo album "Ch. 1 Vs. 1".
In 2023, she appeared in the Netflix crime thriller "Luther: The Fallen Sun" and portrayed Jacqueline in the film "Drift".
In 2024, Erivo played Elphaba in the musical fantasy film "Wicked", receiving nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actress.
In 2024, Erivo portrayed Elphaba in "Wicked", earning critical acclaim and receiving nominations for Best Actress at the Golden Globes, British Academy Film Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and Academy Awards. In 2024 the Academy Award nomination made her the second black actress to have been nominated for Best Actress more than once.
In 2024, Erivo was appointed vice president of her alma mater, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.