Cynthia Erivo
Actress • Singer • Songwriter
Birth Date: January 8, 1987
Age: 38 years old
Birth Place: London, England, UK
Born in 1987 to Nigerian immigrants in London, Cynthia Erivo started performing on stage as an 11 year-old and had some success, starring as Juliet in the Young Vic youth production of "Romeo & Juliet" at age 15 in addition to appearing in a number of commercials. In college, she was set to study music psychology, but an encounter with her Young Vic director convinced her to stick with it and train at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. In 2011, she played Deloris Van Cartier, the lead character in the U.K. tour of the musical "Sister Act" based on the 1992 film of the same name, starring Whoopi Goldberg in the role.
Ironically, the role led to another staged musical version of a character created by Goldberg, when Erivo played the role of Celie Harris in the 2013 London production of "The Color Purple," a role originated by Goldberg in the 1985 filmed version. In 2015, Erivo was the only member of the British cast to come with the show to Broadway, playing the same role to much acclaim, with Jennifer Hudson in the lead role. She followed this stage success with a recurring role in the historical drama "Mr. Selfridge" (PBS/ITV, 2013-). Her breakthrough film roles came in the quirky drama "Bad Times at the El Royale" (2018) and Steve McQueen's collaboration with Gillian Flynn, "Widows" (2018).
Credits
Tony AwardsStream
Host
Awards
2025
The Oscars
Music Performer
Show
2025
Countdown to the Oscars With Robin Roberts: A Special Edition of 20/20
Guest
Show
2025
Grammy AwardsStream
Music Performer
Awards
2025
Wicked: For Good
Actor
Elphaba
Movie
2025
Defying Gravity: The Curtain Rises on Wicked
Self
Special
2024
National Memorial Day Concert
Music Performer
Special
2024
WickedStream
Actor
Elphaba
Movie
2024
Off Script With The Hollywood Reporter
Guest
Talk
2023
Luther: The Fallen SunStream
Actor
Odette Raine
Movie
2023
Drift
Actor
Jacqueline
Movie
2023
Drift
Producer
Movie
2023
Next at the Kennedy Center
Music Performer
Series
2022
Sherri
Guest
Talk
2022
The Jennifer Hudson Show
Guest
Talk
2022
Running Wild With Bear Grylls: The ChallengeStream
Self
Reality
2022
A Capitol Fourth 2022
Music Performer
Show
2022
A Tribute to Julie Andrews
Music Performer
Special
2022
RoarStream
Actor
Ambia
Series
2022
The 64th Annual Grammy Awards
Music Performer
Show
2022
PinocchioStream
Actor
Blue Fairy
Movie
2022
This Cultural Life
Guest
Show
2021
Star Wars: VisionsStream
Voice
Series
2021
CBS Mornings
Guest
News
2021
WICKED in Concert
Music Performer
Special
2021
A Capitol Fourth 2021
Music Performer
Show
2021
HouseBrokenStream
Guest Voice
Owl
Series
2021
27th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
Self
Show
2021
Genius: ArethaStream
Actor
Aretha Franklin
Miniseries
2021
A Grammy Salute to the Sounds of Change
Music Performer
Show
2021
Soul of a NationStream
Music Performer
News
2021
We Have a Dream
Guest
Show
2021
Chaos WalkingStream
Actor
Hildy
Movie
2021
Needle in a Timestack
Actor
Janine
Movie
2021
Grandpa Was an Emperor
Executive Producer
Movie
2021
Chaos Walking
Actor
Mathilde 'Hildy'
Movie
2021
Phoenix Awards
Music Performer
Show
2020
Sky Arts Late
Guest
Show
2020
The Drew Barrymore ShowStream
Guest
Talk
2020
La antesala de Wawa Welcome America
Host
Show
2020
National Memorial Day Concert
Music Performer
Show
2020
Culture in Quarantine
Music Performer
Show
2020
The Oscars
Music Performer
Show
2020
We Have a Dream
Guest
Show
2020
We Have a Dream
Guest
Show
2020
The OutsiderStream
Actor
Holly Gibney
Miniseries
2020
The 42nd Annual Kennedy Center Honors
Music Performer
Show
2019
Oprah At Home with Lupita Nyong'o and Cynthia Erivo
Guest
Show
2019
The Kelly Clarkson ShowStream
Guest
Talk
2019
Access Daily
Guest
Talk
2019
Tamron HallStream
Guest
Talk
2019
The 73rd Annual Tony Awards
Music Performer
Show
2019
Today With Hoda & Jenna
Guest
Show
2019
HarrietStream
Actor
Harriet Tubman
Movie
2019
Today 3rd Hour
Guest
Show
2018
Today 3rd Hour
Music Performer
Show
2018
National Memorial Day Concert
Music Performer
Show
2018
Bad Times at the El RoyaleStream
Actor
Darlene Sweet
Movie
2018
WidowsStream
Actor
Belle
Movie
2018
The 71st Annual Tony Awards
Music Performer
Show
2017
Live with Kelly and Ryan
Guest
Talk
2017
Stayin' Alive: A Grammy Salute to the Music of the Bee Gees
Guest
Show
2017
The 59th Annual Grammy Awards
Music Performer
Show
2017
Taking the Stage: African American Music and Stories That Changed America
Guest
Show
2017
The Rape of Recy Taylor
Actor
Rosa Parks
Movie
2017
Give
Guest
Show
2016
To Tell the TruthStream
Guest
Game Show
2016
The 70th Annual Tony Awards
Music Performer
Show
2016
Maya & Marty
Music Performer
Series
2016
Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance
Music Performer
Show
2015
The Daily Show with Trevor NoahStream
Guest
Talk
2015
The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream
Guest
Talk
2015
The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream
Music Performer
Talk
2015
The Late Late Show With James Corden
Guest
Talk
2015
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
Guest
Show
2014
Late Night With Seth MeyersStream
Guest
Talk
2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream
Guest
Talk
2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream
Music Performer
Talk
2014
The Real
Guest
Talk
2013
Mr. SelfridgeStream
Actor
Alberta Hunter
Series
2013
Entertainment Studios.TV
Guest
Show
2012
CBS This Morning
Guest
Show
2012
Project Runway All Stars
Guest
Show
2012
Dish NationStream
Guest
Talk
2011
The Graham Norton ShowStream
Guest
Talk
2007
Our World With Black Enterprise
Guest
Show
2006
etalk
Guest
Show
2006
Entertainment Tonight Canada
Guest
Show
2005
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Guest
Talk
2003
BBC Proms
Music Performer
Show
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream
Guest
Talk
2003
American IdolStream
Music Performer
Reality
2003
Last Call With Carson Daly
Guest
Talk
2002
The View
Guest
Talk
1997
Theater Talk
Guest
Show
1996
Access Hollywood
Guest
News
1996
Extra
Guest
News
1994
Entertainment Tonight
Guest
News
1981
Live From Lincoln Center
Music Performer
Show
1976
Good Morning America
Guest
News
1975
Good Morning America
Music Performer
News
1975
Great PerformancesStream
Music Performer
Franchise
1972
Today
Guest
News
1952
Today
Music Performer
News
1952
Photos
News aboutCynthia Erivo
Tony Awards 2025: Sarah Paulson & Wendell Pierce to Announce Nominees — When & How to Watch
‘Poker Face’ Season 2 Trailer Teases Charlie Cale’s New Star-Studded Mysteries of the Week (VIDEO)
Review
Critic’s Notebook: Another Long Night at the Oscars
Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande Open Oscars With Stunning ‘Wicked’ Medley Honoring ‘Wizard of Oz’ & ‘The Wiz’
Why Did Jonathan Bailey Skip the 2025 Oscars?
Oscars 2025 on ABC & Hulu: When & How to Watch (and Stream) Ceremony
Emerald City of Love! The ‘Wicked’ Cast & Their Real-Life Relationships
2025 Oscar Nominees Then & Now: See Stars in Their First TV Roles
‘Wicked’ Sets Streaming Premiere Date With All the Deleted Scenes — How & When to Watch
Critics Choice Awards 2025 Red Carpet Arrivals: Sarah Michelle Gellar & More (PHOTOS)
Quincy Jones Grammy Tribute Led By Stevie Wonder & Janelle Monáe
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024: How to Watch, New Floats, Who’s Performing & More!
‘Jeopardy!’ Fans Blast Show Over ‘Especially Bad’ Promo for ‘Wicked’ Movie
‘Jeopardy!’ Fans Call out ‘Wickedly’ Vague Clue That Hurt Champ
Review
Roush Review: ‘Hollywood Black’ Is a Cultural History of Black Cinema From Blackface to ‘Black Panther’
Fall Preview
NBC Fall 2024 Schedule: ‘Happy’s Place,’ ‘One Chicago,’ & ‘Law & Order,’ & More
Oscars 2024: ‘Beetlejuice,’ ‘Taxi Driver,’ ‘Twins’ & More Movie Reunions (PHOTOS)
2023 CMA Awards Announce Gerry Turner, Paula Abdul, Keith Urban & More Presenters
‘Pinocchio’ Trailer: See Wooden Puppet’s Journey to Becoming a Real Boy (VIDEO)
All-Star Stephen Sondheim Medley Accompanies 2022 Grammys In Memoriam Segment
‘Roar’: Star-Studded Cast Brings Feminist Fables to Apple TV+ in Trailer (VIDEO)
‘Roar’: Apple TV+ Releases First Looks at Nicole Kidman, Cynthia Erivo & More (PHOTOS)
Idris Elba Returning for ‘Luther’ Film with Cynthia Erivo & Andy Serkis at Netflix
Preview
‘Genius: Aretha’ Showrunner & Stars Talk Bringing the Queen of Soul to Life
Review
Roush Review: Paying R-E-S-P-E-C-T to the ‘Genius’ of Aretha
Exclusive
‘Genius: Aretha’ Premiere Sneak Peek: A Little Music and a Lot of Family Tension (VIDEO)
Cynthia Erivo, Joseph Gordon-Levitt Join Tom Hanks on Live-Action ‘Pinocchio’ for Disney+
The ‘GLOW’ Team’s New Show ‘Roar’ Set at Apple TV+ With Alison Brie, Nicole Kidman and Cynthia Erivo
First Full Trailer Released for Cynthia Erivo as Aretha Franklin in ‘Genius’ (VIDEO)
Fall Preview
Cynthia Erivo Channels Aretha Franklin for Nat Geo’s First Female ‘Genius’
Nat Geo Reveals First Look at Cynthia Erivo in ‘Genius: Aretha’ (VIDEO)
Preview
2020 Preview: ‘Genius: Aretha’ Shows the Legendary Singer R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Premiere
‘The Outsider’ Sneak Peek: HBO Gets Supernatural in Stephen King Adaptation (PHOTOS)
Review
Roush Review: HBO’s ‘The Outsider’ Is Deluxe Stephen King
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services