My Take
Cynthia Erivo is one of those rare performers who makes you feel genuinely humbled just watching her work. She grew up in Stockwell, south London, trained at the University of East London, and then proceeded to absolutely demolish Broadway with her lead performance in The Color Purple — taking home the Tony, the Grammy for the cast album, and a Drama Desk Award in the process. When she pivoted to film and played Harriet Tubman in 2019's Harriet, the performance was so committed and physically transforming that an Oscar nomination felt inevitable. The fact that she came so close to a full EGOT while still in her thirties is almost unfair. And then the 2024 Wicked film arrived and reminded everyone all over again just how incandescent her voice is. She is the real deal — technically extraordinary, emotionally devastating, and somehow still underrated in casual conversation.
Overview
Cynthia Erivo ( ə-REE-voh; born 8 January 1987) is a British actress and singer. Known for her work on both stage and screen, she is the recipient of several accolades and one of few individuals nominated for an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony Award (EGOT), winning all but the Oscar.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Cynthia Erivo
- Name (Japanese)
- シンシア・エリヴォ
- Reading
- しんしあ・えりゔぉ
- Born
- January 8, 1987 (age 39)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Capricorn / Rabbit
- Origin
- Stockwell, United Kingdom
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- singer / actor / film actor / stage actor / songwriter
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- University of East London
Awards & achievements
- 2016 Theatre World Award
- 2016 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical
- 2018 OkayAfrica 100 Women
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical
- 2020 Female Performance in Film
- 2017 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Wicked | — | |
| Notable work | Wicked: For Good | — | |
| Notable work | Harriet | — |
6. Links
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.