
Cynthia Erivo
Biography
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.
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Known For

TV
The Daily Show
Self
1996

TV
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self - Guest
2014

TV
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self
2014

TV
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self - Guest
2014

TV
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self
2015

TV
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self - Musical Guest
2015

TV
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self
2019

TV
Amazing Saturday
Self
2018

TV
Great Performances
Self - Performer
1971

TV
The Late Late Show with James Corden
Self
2015

TV
The View
Self - Guest
1997

TV
The Graham Norton Show
Self
2007

TV
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self
2003

TV
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self - Guest
2003

TV
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest
1988

TV
The Voice
Self - Advisor
2011

TV
The Jennifer Hudson Show
Self
2022

TV
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee
1944

TV
Dancing with the Stars
Self - Guest
2005

TV
RuPaul's Drag Race
Self - Guest Judge
2009
Filmography
2027FilmBad Fairiesas Jayne Staplegun (voice)2027FilmChildren of Blood and Boneas Admiral Kaea2025FilmMaking Wicked: For Goodas Self2025TVVariety & CNN Actors on Actorsas Self2025FilmThe 99th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Paradeas Self2025FilmWicked: For Goodas Elphaba2025FilmWicked: For Good - A Sneak Peekas Self2025FilmWicked: One Wonderful Nightas Self2025TVE.B. White's Charlotte's Webas Goose (voice)2025TVNumber One on the Call Sheetas Self2025TVRoboGoboas The Slink (voice)2024FilmMaking Wickedas Self2024FilmDefying Gravity: The Curtain Rises on Wickedas Self2024TVCelebrity Substituteas Self2024FilmWickedas Elphaba2024TVSimone Biles Risingas Self2024FilmDriftas Jacqueline Kamara2023FilmCynthia Erivo & Friends: A New Year's Eve Celebrationas Self2023TVOff Script with The Hollywood Reporteras Self - Roundtable Talent2023FilmLuther: The Fallen Sunas Odette Raine2023TVMarvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosauras Dr. Ojo (voice)2023TVPoker Faceas Amber / Delia / Cece / Bebe Kazinsky / Felicty Price2022TVSherrias Self - Guest2022TVThe Jennifer Hudson Showas Self2022FilmPinocchioas Blue Fairy2022FilmCynthia Erivo: Legendary Voices at the Promsas Self2022TVRunning Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challengeas Self2022TVRoaras Ambia2021FilmNeedle in a Timestackas Janine Mikkelsen2021TVStar Wars: Visionsas Kratu (voice)2021FilmWicked in Concert: A Musical Celebration of the Iconic Broadway Scoreas Self2021FilmChaos Walkingas Hildy2020FilmThe Boss Baby: Get That Baby!as Turtleneck Superstar (voice)2020FilmShoshana Bean and Friends: An Evening of Broadwayas Performer2020TVWho Wants to Be a Millionaireas Self - Phone a Friend2020TVThe Outsideras Holly Gibney2019FilmHarrietas Harriet Tubman2019TVThe Kelly Clarkson Showas Self2019FilmSchool Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Playas Eloise2019FilmThe Rape of Recy Tayloras Rosa Parks2019FilmCynthia Erivo: Live from Lincoln Center2018FilmWidowsas Belle2018FilmBad Times at the El Royaleas Darlene Sweet2018TVAmazing Saturdayas Self2018TVThe Boss Baby: Back in Businessas Turtleneck Superstar CEO Baby (voice)2018FilmForbidden2018TVAmerican Idolas Self2017TVBig Mouth2017TVGeniusas Aretha Franklin2017FilmStayin' Alive: A Grammy Salute to the Music of the Bee Geesas Self - Presenter2016TVQuotidienas Self - Guest2016TVTo Tell the Truthas Self - Panelist2016TVFull Frontal with Samantha Beeas Self2015TVChewing Gumas Magdalene2015TVThe Late Show with Stephen Colbertas Self2015TVThe Late Late Show with James Cordenas Self2014TVVariety Studio: Actors on Actorsas Self2014TVChicken Shop Dateas Self - Guest2014TVLate Night with Seth Meyersas Self2014TVThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallonas Self - Guest2014TVBroad Cityas Lisa2013FilmLiftas Lap Dancer2012TVRuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: UNTUCKEDas Self - Guest Judge2012TVRuPaul's Drag Race All Starsas Self - Guest Judge2011TVThe Voiceas Self - Advisor2009TVRuPaul's Drag Raceas Self - Guest Judge2007TVThe Graham Norton Showas Self2005TVDancing with the Starsas Self - Guest2004TVProject Runwayas Self - Guest2004TVStrictly Come Dancingas Self - Guest Mentor2003TVJimmy Kimmel Live!as Self1997TVThe Viewas Self - Guest1996TVThe Daily Showas Self1988TVLIVE with Kelly and Markas Self - Guest1976TVLive from Lincoln Centeras Self1973TVThe American Film Institute Salute to ...as Self1971TVGreat Performancesas Self - Performer1959TVThe Grammysas Self1953TVThe Oscarsas Self1944TVGolden Globe Awardsas Self - Nominee—FilmBlink Speed—FilmPrima Facieas Tessa—FilmTalent Show—FilmSteel—FilmKaroshi—FilmI Can't Sing! The X Factor Musicalas Chenice—FilmOthelloas Emilia—FilmCarrieras Raylene