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Cynthia Erivo
Cynthia Erivo is a British actor and singer, born in south London to Nigerian parents, whose career spans musical theatre, film, television and recorded music. She is particularly known for playing Celie in The Color Purple, Harriet Tubman in Harriet and Elphaba in Wicked.
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About Cynthia Erivo
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United Kingdom · Actor, Singer
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- Actor
- Singer
At a glance
- Erivo's performance as Celie in The Color Purple brought her a 2016 Tony Award and a share of the production's 2017 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.
- Her work on Harriet led to Academy Award nominations for leading actress and for the original song Stand Up, which she co-wrote with Joshuah Brian Campbell.
- She played Elphaba in the 2024 film Wicked and received a 2025 Academy Award nomination for leading actress.
- Erivo serves as a Vice-President of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and was named an MBE for services to music and drama in the 2026 New Year Honours.
Background and training
Born in south London to Nigerian parents, Erivo trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and graduated in 2010. Her work developed across acting and singing, with a career encompassing stage, screen, television and recorded music.
Stage breakthrough and major awards
Erivo played Celie in the UK premiere and Broadway transfer of The Color Purple. The role brought her the 2016 Tony Award in the Actress in a Musical category, followed in 2017 by a Grammy as one of the credited winners for Best Musical Theater Album and a Daytime Emmy for a performance with the show's cast on NBC's Today.
Film and television career
Her screen roles include Harriet Tubman in Harriet, Aretha Franklin in Genius: Aretha and Elphaba in Wicked. Harriet resulted in Academy Award nominations for leading actress and original song, her portrayal of Franklin received a 2021 Primetime Emmy nomination, and Wicked brought another leading-actress Academy Award nomination in 2025.
Institutional roles and recognition
RADA appointed Erivo as a Vice-President in February 2024. The official 2026 New Year Honours list named her a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to music and drama, while the Recording Academy records a 2026 Grammy win with Ariana Grande for Defying Gravity.
Timeline
- Graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
- Won a Tony Award for The Color Purple.
- Received a Grammy for The Color Purple and a Daytime Emmy for a performance with The Color Purple cast on Today.
- Received Academy Award nominations associated with Harriet for leading actress and for the co-written song Stand Up.
- Received an Academy Award nomination for leading actress for Wicked.
- Was included in the United Kingdom's New Year Honours as an MBE for services to music and drama.
Additional verified details
Current context
- RADA identifies Erivo as its Vice-President, appointed in February 2024.
- The Recording Academy's artist record lists Erivo with two Grammy wins and five nominations, including a 2026 win for Defying Gravity with Ariana Grande. Award totals and nomination counts may change in future Grammy cycles.
- The official 2026 New Year Honours list records Erivo as a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to music and drama.
Biographical facts
- Erivo is a British actor and singer who was born in south London to Nigerian parents.
- She graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 2010.
- She played Celie in the UK premiere and Broadway transfer of The Color Purple.
- She won the 2016 Tony Award in the Actress in a Musical category for The Color Purple.
- She was among the credited winners of the 2017 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album for The Color Purple.
- She won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Musical Performance for a guest appearance with The Color Purple cast on NBC's Today.
- For Harriet, Erivo was nominated for an Academy Award for Actress in a Leading Role, while Stand Up, credited to Joshuah Brian Campbell and Erivo for music and lyrics, was nominated for Original Song.
- She received a 2021 Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for playing Aretha Franklin in Genius: Aretha.
- She played Elphaba in Universal's 2024 film adaptation of Wicked.
- She was nominated for Actress in a Leading Role for Wicked at the 97th Academy Awards.
- Erivo and Ariana Grande won the 2026 Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for Defying Gravity.
Connections
Affiliations
Affiliations associated with Cynthia Erivo.
- Royal Academy of Dramatic Art Vice-President 2024-02–present
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