Cynthia Erivo

Cynthia Onyedinmanasu Chinasaokwu Erivo (/əˈriːvoʊ/;[3] born 8 January 1987) is an English actress, singer and songwriter. She is the recipient of several accolades, including a Tony Award and a Grammy Award, and has been nominated for two Academy Awards.

Cynthia Erivo
Erivo at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival
Born
Cynthia Onyedinmanasu Chinasaokwu Erivo[1][2]

(1987-01-08) 8 January 1987
Stockwell, London, England
Alma materRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art
OccupationActress, singer, songwriter
Years active2011–present
AwardsFull list
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentsVocals

Erivo began acting in a 2011 stage production of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and had her first screen role in the British television series Chewing Gum (2015). She gained recognition for starring in the Broadway revival of The Color Purple from 2015 to 2017, for which she won the 2016 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, among others. She ventured into films in 2018, with roles in the heist film Widows and the thriller Bad Times at the El Royale. Erivo portrayed the abolitionist Harriet Tubman in the biopic Harriet (2019), receiving Academy Award nominations for Best Actress and Best Original Song. In 2020, Erivo starred in the crime drama miniseries The Outsider.

Early life and education

Erivo was born to Nigerian parents in Stockwell, South London.[4] Her mother is a nurse.[5] She attended La Retraite Roman Catholic Girls' School. Erivo began a music psychology degree at the University of East London; however, a year into her degree, she applied to,[6] and subsequently trained at, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.[7]

Career

Theatre

Erivo first appeared in roles on British television programmes such as Chewing Gum and The Tunnel. Her first stage role was in Marine Parade by Simon Stephens at the Brighton Festival.[8] Her first musical role was in John Adams' and June Jordan's I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky at Theatre Royal Stratford East.[9]

In 2013, Erivo played the role of Celie Harris in the Menier Chocolate Factory production of The Color Purple,[10][11] a role which Whoopi Goldberg had originated onscreen. Erivo had previously portrayed Sister Mary Clarence/Deloris Van Cartier in a UK tour of the stage musical Sister Act,[12] which Goldberg had originated in its film adaptation.

Erivo in 2018

Erivo originated the role of Chenice in the West End musical I Can't Sing! The X Factor Musical,[13] which opened on 26 March 2014, at the London Palladium.[14] The production closed on 10 May,[15] just six weeks and three days since its official opening night.[16]

She is also featured as a recording artist, co-writing and performing "Fly Before You Fall" on the soundtrack to the American musical drama Beyond the Lights.[4]

She made her Broadway debut in the 2015 Broadway revival transfer of the Menier Chocolate Factory production of The Color Purple,[17] reprising her role as Celie Harris alongside American actresses Jennifer Hudson as Shug Avery and Danielle Brooks as Sofia.[18] The production began performances at Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, from 10 December 2015.[19] Among other awards for her performance, Erivo won the 2016 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

Erivo starred as Cathy alongside Joshua Henry in a one-night benefit concert performance of Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years on 12 September 2016. Proceeds from the performance went to the Brady Center, a national gun violence organization.[20]

In February 2017, Erivo performed "God Only Knows" as a tribute to musicians who had died over the past year alongside John Legend at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.[21]

In March 2017, Erivo and the cast of The Color Purple were nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for their performance on NBC's The Today Show in May 2016.[22] In April 2017, it was announced that Erivo and the cast of The Color Purple alongside The 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 benefit "Night of too Many Stars" hosted by Jon Stewart, where she performed a duet with frequent contributor Jodi DiPiazza of the Andra Day hit "Rise Up" they were accompanied by Questlove and The Roots.[23]

Film and television

Erivo made her film debut in 2018 in the neo-noir thriller film Bad Times at the El Royale.[24] Justin Chang of the Los Angeles Times deemed Erivo's performance "revelatory in the most rewarding sense".[25] That same year, she also starred in the heist thriller film Widows, which marked the first film she had ever shot.[26] In his review of the film for The Atlantic, David Sims highlighted Erivo's "incredible work" in selling her character's dramatic transformation.[27]

Erivo portrayed the title role in Harriet, a biographical film about American abolitionist Harriet Tubman.[28][29] The film began production in October 2018,[30] completed filming in January 2019, and was released on 1 November 2019.[31] Her performance earned her a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama;[32] she also received a second nomination for Best Original Song for a song she co-wrote and performed for the film entitled "Stand Up".[33] In 2020, Erivo garnered nominations for two Academy Awards–one for Best Actress for her portrayal of Tubman and the other for Best Original Song for "Stand Up".[34]

In 2020, Erivo starred as investigator Holly Gibney in the HBO miniseries The Outsider, a television adaptation of Stephen King's novel of the same name;[35][36][37] She will appear in Chaos Walking, based on Patrick Ness' novels trilogy of the same title, which is scheduled for a 22 January 2021 release.[38] Erivo is also set to produce and star in a science fiction thriller film adaption of the podcast Carrier, reprising the role of Raylene, whom Erivo voiced in the podcast.[39]

Podcasts

In 2019, Erivo produced and starred in the seven-episode scripted science fiction thriller podcast Carrier from audio firm Qcode Media, playing the lead role of Raylene Watts, a long-haul truck driver transporting a trailer with "disturbing, mysterious contents".[40][41]

Personal life

Erivo is Roman Catholic.[42] She was in a relationship with actor and singer Dean John-Wilson.[43] She began dating Mario Martinez in 2017.[44]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2018 Widows Belle
2018 Bad Times at the El Royale Darlene Sweet
2019 Harriet Harriet Tubman
2021 Chaos Walking Hildy Post-production
TBA Needle in a Timestack TBA Post-production

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2015 Chewing Gum Magdalene Episode: "Tolled Road"
2016 Mr Selfridge Alberta Hunter 2 episodes
2016 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) Season 2
2019 American Idol Herself 1 episode
2020 The Outsider Holly Gibney Miniseries
2020 Genius Aretha Franklin Season 3

Theatre credits
Year(s) Production Role Location Category
2011 The Umbrellas of Cherbourg Madeleine Curve Theatre/Gielgud Theatre Leicester/West End
2011–2012 Sister Act Deloris Van Cartier / Sister Mary Clarence N/A UK Tour
2013 Lift Lap Dancer Soho Theatre Off-West End
2013 The Color Purple Celie Harris Johnson Menier Chocolate Factory Off-West End
2014 I Can't Sing! The X Factor Musical Chenice London Palladium West End
2015 How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying[45] Rosemary Pilkington Royal Festival Hall Off-West End
2015 A Midsummer Night's Dream[46] Puck Liverpool Everyman Regional
2015–2017 The Color Purple Celie Harris Johnson Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre Broadway
2016 The Last Five Years Cathy Hiatt The Town Hall Brady Center Benefit Concert

Discography

Albums

Studio albums
List of albums, with selected information
Title Album details
Cynthia Erivo and Oliver Tompsett Sing Scott Alan (with Oliver Tompsett & Scott Alan)

Soundtrack and cast albums
List of albums, with selected information
Title Album details
The Color Purple (2015 Broadway Cast Recording)
  • Released: 19 February 2016
  • Label: Broadway Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Anthem: Homunculus (Original Soundtrack)
  • Released: 19 April 2019
  • Label: Ghostlight Records
  • Formats: Digital download

Singles

As lead artist
Title Year Peak chart
positions		 Album
US
R&B
Dig
[47]
"Fly Before You Fall" 2014 21 Beyond the Lights (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
"God Only Knows" (with John Legend featuring yMusic) 2018 20 non-album single
"Stand Up" (from Harriet) 2019 — Harriet (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Song Year Album
"Won't Let You Down" (Cynikal featuring Cynthia Erivo) 2012 non-album single
"I Did Something Bad (cover)" (Shoshana Bean featuring Cynthia Erivo) 2018

Other appearances
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)

Awards and nominations
Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Cynthia Erivo
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References
  1. "@cynthiaerivo on Instagram: "DAY BY DAY I REALIZE THAT PEOPLE Don't REALIZE THAT I AM NIGERIAN. I AM NIGERIAN. IGBO KWENU Ahah Full name Cynthia Onyedinmanasu…"".
  2. "Family Search". Familysearch.org. Retrieved 26 February 2019. (subscription required)
  3. "Cynthia Erivo Explores ASMR". W. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  4. Wolf, Matt (17 July 2013). "A Star Is Born! Meet Cynthia Erivo, Who Plays Celie in John Doyle's London Premiere of The Color Purple". Theatre.com. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  5. "Cynthia Erivo Reveals How She Accessed Sadness to Portray Harriet Tubman". O, The Oprah Magazine. 28 October 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  6. John, Emma (27 July 2015). "Move over Whoopi! How Cynthia Erivo made The Color Purple her own". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  7. Bosanquet, Theo (19 November 2014). "Leading Ladies: Cynthia Erivo 'I want to do everything'". What's On Stage. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  8. Hemley, Matthew (26 July 2015). "Cynthia Erivo: 'You have to drag me off the stage'". The Stage. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  9. "I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw The Sky, Theatre Royal Stratford East". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  10. McCrum, Robert (20 July 2013). "The Color Purple – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  11. Gilbert, Ryan (3 June 2013). "Complete Casting Announced for The Color Purple at London's Menier Chocolate Factory". Theatre.com. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  12. Shenton, Mark (22 June 2011). "U.K. Tour of Sister Act Will Be Led by Denise Black, Michael Starke and Cynthia Erivo". Playbill. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  13. Bosanquet, Theo (30 August 2013). "Nigel Harman and Cynthia Erivo star in X Factor musical I Can't Sing!". What's On Stage. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  14. McNally, Kelby (22 May 2013). "'I Can't Sing': Harry Hill reveals name of his X Factor musical". Sunday Express. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  15. "X Factor musical I Can't Sing! to close early". BBC News. 27 April 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  16. Osley, Richard (27 April 2014). "X Factor musical I Can't Sing! to close after less than two months". The Independent. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  17. "The Color Purple: Cynthia Erivo wows critics in Broadway debut". BBC News. 11 December 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  18. "Cynthia Erivo to join Jennifer Hudson in 'The Color Purple'". The Guardian. Associated Press. 17 March 2015.
  19. Viagas, Robert (16 March 2015). "Breakout London Star Cynthia Erivo Wins Plum Lead in Broadway Color Purple Revival". Playbill. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  20. Piepenburg, Erik (11 August 2016). "Cynthia Erivo and Joshua Henry to Star in 'Last Five Years' Benefit". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  21. Brown, Eric (12 February 2017). "John Legend and Cynthia Erivo Honor Those We've Lost at Grammys". People. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  22. McPhee, Ryan (23 March 2017). "The Color Purple Performance on The Today Show Led By Cynthia Erivo Receives Daytime Emmy Nomination". Playbill. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
  23. McGlynn, Katla (19 November 2017). "The Highs and Lows of Night of Too Many Stars, Jon Stewart's Autism Benefit Show". Vulture. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  24. Marotta, Jenna (24 September 2018). "'Bad Times at El Royale' Debut Draws Dakota Johnson, Jeff Bridges, Jon Hamm". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  25. Chang, Justin (10 October 2018). "Review: Twisty motel noir 'Bad Times at the El Royale' nearly overstays its welcome". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  26. Jones, Nate (30 October 2019). "Cynthia Erivo Answers Every Question We Have About 'Widows'". Vulture. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  27. Sims, David (15 November 2018). "'Widows': Viola Davis Steals McQueen's Heist Thriller". The Atlantic. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  28. Gans, Andrew (8 February 2017). "Cynthia Erivo Will Play Harriet Tubman in New Film Harriet". Playbill. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  29. N'Duka, Amanda (8 February 2017). "Cynthia Erivo To Star As Harriet Tubman In Upcoming 'Harriet' Biopic". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  30. D'Alessandro, Anthony (13 September 2018). "Focus Features Moving Forward With Harriet Tubman Pic Starring Cynthia Erivo". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  31. Brown, Stacy M. "New film honors the life of Harriet Tubman". Insight News. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  32. "Golden Globes 2020: The Complete Nominations List". Variety. 9 December 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  33. N'Duka, Amanda (9 December 2019). "'Harriet' Star Cynthia Erivo Lands Double Golden Globe Nominations, Talks Harriet Tubman & Aretha Franklin". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  34. Abad-Santos, Alex; Wilkinson, Alissa (13 January 2020). "Oscars 2020: the full list of nominees". Vox. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  35. Petski, Denise (25 January 2019). "'The Outsider': Cynthia Erivo, Bill Camp, Mare Winningham, Paddy Considine, Julianne Nicholson Among 10 Cast In HBO Drama Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  36. "HBO's Stephen King Series 'The Outsider' Fills Out Cast". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  37. Ramos, Dino-Ray (15 January 2020). "'The Outsider's Cynthia Erivo Responds To Stephen King's Diversity Comments; Bateman And Price Talk Challenges Adapting Horror Author's Work – TCA". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  38. "Cynthia Erivo Joins Daisy Ridley in 'Chaos Walking' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  39. McNary, Dave (12 February 2020). "Cynthia Erivo to Star in Film Adaptation of Her Podcast 'Carrier'". Variety. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  40. "Carrier – QCODE". QCODE. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  41. Wiseman, Andreas (9 July 2019). "'Carrier' Podcast First Trailer: Upcoming Thriller Stars 'Bad Times At The El Royale's Cynthia Erivo". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  42. Paulson, Michael (22 December 2015). "The Actress Cynthia Erivo Rises With 'The Color Purple'". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  43. "Cynthia Erivo: Tony award win has not sunk in". BBC News. 16 June 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  44. Desta, Yohana (15 October 2019). "How Cynthia Erivo Found Her Voice". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  45. "Cynthia Erivo and Clarke Peters cast in How to Succeed concert". The Stage. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  46. "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse theatres. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  47. "Cynthia Erivo: Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
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