Cynthia Erivo (/əˈriːvoʊ/;[1] born 8 January 1987) is an English actress, singer, and songwriter. She is the recipient of several accolades, including a Daytime Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, and a Tony Award, in addition to nominations for two Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.<br />In 2013, Erivo played the role of Celie Harris in the Menier Chocolate Factory production of The Color Purple,[8][9] 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,[10] which Goldberg had originated in its film adaptation. She is also featured on the soundtrack to the musical drama film Beyond the Lights, co-writing and performing the song "Fly Before You Fall".[2]<br /><br />Erivo originated the role of Chenice in the West End musical I Can't Sing!,[11] which opened at the London Palladium on 26 March 2014, garnering mixed reviews.[12][13] The production closed on 10 May, just six weeks and three days after its official opening night.[13][14] Erivo starred in the European premiere of Dessa Rose at London's Trafalgar Studios from July to August 2014, for which she was nominated as Best Leading Actress in a musical at the 2015 BroadwayWorld UK awards.<br />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".<br />On television, Erivo had her first role in the British series Chewing Gum (2015). She went on to star in the crime drama miniseries The Outsider (2020), and received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for her portrayal of American singer Aretha Franklin in National Geographic's anthology series Genius: Aretha (2021).<br />Erivo played The Blue Fairy in Disney's live-action film adaptation of Pinocchio, directed by Robert Zemeckis.[44] She is slated to produce and star in a film adaption of the podcast Carrier, reprising the role of Raylene.[45] Erivo is attached to star in a film continuation of the series Luther and as Elphaba in a two-part film adaptation of the musical Wicked.[46][47][48] She will star in and produce sci-fi film Blink Speed for Netflix.
