Cynthia Erivo

Basic Information:

• Name: Cynthia Chinasaokwu Onyedinmanasu Amarachukwu Owezuke Echimino Erivo

• Date of Birth: January 8, 1987

• Nationality: British

• Profession: Actress, Singer, Songwriter, Producer

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Biography:

Cynthia Erivo is a British actress, singer, and songwriter born to Nigerian immigrant parents in Stockwell, South London. Her mother, Edith, was a nurse and raised Cynthia and her younger sister Stephanie after her parents separated when she was very young. She had an early interest in performing, and at the age of five, she sang a solo of "Silent Night" at a school Christmas play. Erivo attended La Retraite Roman Catholic Girls' School and initially began a degree in music psychology at the University of East London. However, she transferred to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), where she graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Acting in 2010.

Erivo's career began in theatre, making her West End debut in "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg" (2011). Her breakthrough role came when she played Celie in the Broadway revival of "The Color Purple" (2015-2017). This performance garnered her a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, and a Daytime Emmy Award. Transitioning into film, Erivo appeared in the crime thrillers "Widows" and "Bad Times at the El Royale" in 2018. She received critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Harriet Tubman in "Harriet" (2019), a role for which she also co-wrote and performed the song "Stand Up," which also received an Oscar nomination. Erivo continued to build her filmography with roles such as Holly Gibney in HBO라이브 바카라 "The Outsider" (2020), and Aretha Franklin in the anthology series "Genius: Aretha" (2021), which earned her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. Most recently, she starred as Elphaba in the film adaptation of "Wicked" (2024), further cementing her status as an accomplished performer. She also launched her production company Edith's Daughter, focusing on underrepresented narratives and voices.

Career Timeline:

• 2010: Graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

• 2011: West End debut in "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg".

• 2015-2017: Broadway debut as Celie in "The Color Purple," winning a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

• 2018: Film debut in "Widows" and "Bad Times at the El Royale."

• 2019: Starred as Harriet Tubman in "Harriet," earning two Academy Award nominations.

• 2020: Appeared in the HBO series "The Outsider."

• 2021: Portrayed Aretha Franklin in "Genius: Aretha" and released her debut album "Ch. 1 Vs. 1."

• 2024: Starred as Elphaba in the film adaptation of "Wicked."

Achievements:

Cynthia Erivo has received a Daytime Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, and a Tony Award for her work in “The Color Purple,” making her a Triple Crown winner. She has garnered critical acclaim and numerous nominations throughout her career, including three Academy Award nominations, two British Academy Film Awards nominations, four Golden Globe Award nominations, two Screen Actors Guild Award nominations and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. In 2016, she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance as Celie in the Broadway revival of "The Color Purple." She also received a Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award for the same role. In 2017, alongside the cast of The Color Purple, Erivo won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Musical Performance in a Daytime Program and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. Erivo earned nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actress and Best Original Song for "Stand Up," which she co-wrote and performed for the film "Harriet" in 2020. She is also one of the few artists to receive nominations for an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award), needing an Oscar to achieve it. Erivo is also known for her advocacy and support for racial equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and representation in the arts.

Key Quotes / Catchphrases:

• “I don't believe that many things are impossible to achieve so long as you put your mind to it and take the time to get it done.” 

• “You sense when something is special, but you don't know how special it is until it's in front of an audience.”

• “Meditation, yoga, working out, and eating well. That's my wellness. And I think occasionally you have to treat yourself”

• "If you're going to go for a thing, there's no point unless you're going all the way."

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