Cynthia Chinasaokwu Onyedinmanasu Amarachukwu Owezuke Echimino Erivo (born January 8, 1987) is a British actress and singer who first gained recognition for her lead role as Celie in the Broadway revival of The Color Purple, earning a Tony Award, a Grammy Award, and a Daytime Emmy Award. She transitioned to film with Bad Times at the El Royale (2018) and Widows (2018) before portraying Harriet Tubman in Harriet (2019), a performance that earned her nominations at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and Screen Actors Guild Awards. She also co-wrote and performed the film’s song Stand Up, which received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.
On television, Erivo starred in The Outsider (2020) and portrayed Aretha Franklin in Genius: Aretha (2021), receiving nominations at the Primetime Emmy Awards, Golden Globes, and Screen Actors Guild Awards. In 2024, she starred as Elphaba in Wicked, the film adaptation of the stage musical, earning awards nominations at the Academy Awards and BAFTA Awards.
Known For
Luther: The Fallen Sun
Odette Raine
2023
Blink Speed
Prima Facie
Tessa
Children of Blood and Bone
Admiral Kaea
2027
Wicked: For Good
Elphaba
2025
Making Wicked
Self
2024
Wicked
Elphaba
2024
Defying Gravity: The Curtain Rises on Wicked
Self
2024
Drift
Jacqueline Kamara
2024
Cynthia Erivo & Friends: A New Year’s Eve Celebration
Self
2023
Pinocchio
Blue Fairy
2022
Cynthia Erivo: Legendary Voices at the Proms
Self
2022
Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge
Self · (1 episode)
2022
Needle in a Timestack
Janine Mikkelsen
2021
Star Wars: Visions
Kratu (voice) · (1 episode)
2021
Wicked in Concert: A Musical Celebration of the Iconic Broadway Score
Self
2021
Chaos Walking
Hildy
2021
The Boss Baby: Get That Baby!
Turtleneck Superstar (voice)
2020
Shoshana Bean and Friends: An Evening of Broadway
Performer
2020
Harriet
Harriet Tubman
2019
School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play
Eloise
2019
The Rape of Recy Taylor
Rosa Parks
2019
Cynthia Erivo: Live From Lincoln Center
2019
Widows
Belle
2018
Bad Times at the El Royale
Darlene Sweet
2018
Stayin' Alive: A Grammy Salute to the Music of the Bee Gees
Self - Presenter
2017
Talent Show
Carrier
Raylene
Steel
Forbidden
2018
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2014
Lift
Lap Dancer
2013
Karoshi
Wicked: Event Special
Self
Number One on the Call Sheet
Self · (1 episode)
2025
RoboGobo
The Slink (voice) · (48 episodes)
2025
Celebrity Substitute
Self · (1 episode)
2024
Simone Biles Rising
Self · (4 episodes)
2024
Off Script with The Hollywood Reporter
Self - Roundtable Talent · (1 episode)
2023
Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur
Dr. Ojo (voice) · (1 episode)
2023
Poker Face
Amber / Delia / Cece / Bebe Kazinsky / Felicty Price · (1 episode)
2023
Sherri
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2022
The Jennifer Hudson Show
Self · (1 episode)
2022
Roar
Ambia · (1 episode)
2022
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
Self - Phone a Friend · (1 episode)
2020
The Outsider
Holly Gibney · (10 episodes)
2020
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self · (4 episodes)
2019
Amazing Saturday
Self · (1 episode)
2018
The Boss Baby: Back in Business
Turtleneck Superstar CEO Baby (voice) · (13 episodes)
2018
American Idol
Self · (1 episode)
2018
Lie Detector
Self · (1 episode)
2018
Big Mouth
(1 episode)
2017
Genius
Aretha Franklin · (8 episodes)
2017
To Tell the Truth
Self - Panelist · (2 episodes)
2016
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
Self · (1 episode)
2016
Chewing Gum
Magdalene · (1 episode)
2015
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self · (3 episodes)
2015
The Late Late Show with James Corden
Self · (1 episode)
2015
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
Self · (2 episodes)
2014
Chicken Shop Date
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2014
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self · (1 episode)
2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self · (1 episode)
2014
Broad City
Lisa · (2 episodes)
2014
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: UNTUCKED
Self - Guest Judge · (1 episode)
2012
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars
Self - Guest Judge · (1 episode)
2012
The Graham Norton Show
Self · (2 episodes)
2007
Live from Lincoln Center
Self · (1 episode)
1976
The Grammys
Self · (2 episodes)
1959
Raising Wild
(1 episode)
The Voice
Self - Advisor · (3 episodes)
2011
RuPaul's Drag Race
Self - Guest Judge · (1 episode)
2009
The View
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1997
The Daily Show
Self · (1 episode)
1996
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest · (2 episodes)
1988
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
Self · (1 episode)
1973
Great Performances
Self - Performer · (1 episode)
1971
Tony Awards
Self - Host · (1 episode)
1956
The Oscars
Self · (4 episodes)
1953
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee · (1 episode)
1944