Top 10 Reasons You Should Know Who Cynthia Erivo Is

Even if she’s not a household name yet, you might recognize Erivo from some of her screen credits. Erivo made her feature film debut in 2018 with two highly acclaimed films. In the heist drama “Widows,” Erivo played Belle, a babysitter turned getaway driver who’s fast on her feet and even more quick-witted. Erivo gave another standout performance in “Bad Times at the El Royale” as Darlene Sweet, a soul singer with a golden voice and a heart of gold. Although both of these films sadly underperformed at the box office, critics singled out Erivo was one to watch and various outlets listed her among 2018’s breakout stars. As you’ll find throughout this countdown, 2019 would be another massive step forward for Erivo’s career.

Born in Stockwell, South London, Erivo was brought up by her Nigerian mother. Taking notice that her 18-month-old daughter liked to hum while she ate, Erivo’s mother wrote in her baby book that she had the makings of a singer. Her premonition would quickly become a reality. By the time she was five, Erivo was already wowing audiences with her rendition of “Silent Night” on Christmas Eve. As a teenager, Erivo considered becoming a spinal surgeon, but her mother gave her the confidence to keep singing. Her passion for performing motivated Erivo to pursue a music psychology degree at the University of East London. After a year of studying, Erivo transferred to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art where her focus shifted to acting.

Erivo has not only lent her exquisite voice to the screen and stage, but podcasts as well. In 2019, the actress teamed with Qcode Media on the scripted series “Carrier,” serving as its co-producer and main voice talent. In this seven-episode serialized thriller, Erivo voices Raylene 'Ray' Watts, a truck driver who’s been tasked with transporting mysterious cargo. Throughout the long journey, Ray must not only confront what’s in the trailer she’s hauling, but the demons within herself as well. “Carrier” has been met with acclaim for its storytelling, sound design, and of course Erivo’s performance, proving that there’s still a place for audio drama in the modern entertainment landscape.

If you’re not following Erivo on social media already, you’re missing out on a treasure trove of priceless moments. Erivo’s Instagram in particular provides a gripping portal into her life and wardrobe. Whether she’s walking down the red carpet or posing for a magazine, we can always expect Erivo’s bold fashion choices to leave a lasting impression. Of course, Erivo isn’t afraid to trade in her designer dresses for shorts, a sleeveless shirt, and tennis shoes. Erivo is an active runner and all-around exercising machine, sharing her fitness routines online. Erivo also establishes in her bio that she’s equal parts actress and singer, which is definitely enforced by the backstage footage that she’s posted.

In 2017, Erivo shared in a victory at the 59th Grammy Awards where “The Color Purple” won Best Musical Theater Album. That same year, Erivo performed a duet with John Legend on the award show’s telecast. For the broadcast’s In Memoriam segment, they turned in a haunting cover of “God Only Knows.” While the Beach Boys song is anything but obscure, Erivo and Legend’s distinctive touches made many audiences feel as if they were hearing it for the first time. Prince, George Michael, and the other stars who were featured that evening couldn’t have asked for a more touching tribute. The following day, Legend shared the soulful track’s studio version on his YouTube account, eventually gaining over a million views.

In addition to acting and singing, Erivo can add songwriting to her increasing list of talents. Working on the biopic “Harriet,” director Kasi Lemmons felt the end credits could use a song. Joshuah Brian Campbell had already written an original piece, but his music and lyrics needed a little something extra to bring down the house. As the movie’s leading lady, Erivo had a few ideas of her own and asked if she could help rewrite the song with Campbell. Collaborating, Erivo and Campbell composed a gospel tune entitled “Stand Up,” which served as both a love letter to Harriet Tubman and an inspirational call to freedom. Erivo gave the song a voice in more ways than one, performing “Stand Up” for the film.

If her upcoming projects are any indication, Erivo’s career is showing no signs of slowing down going into 2020 and beyond. On the big screen, Erivo will appear in “Chaos Walking,” Doug Liman’s long-delayed sci-fi film, “Needle in a Timestack,” the latest film from “12 Years a Slave” screenwriter John Ridley, and “The Saviors,” which will co-star Jamie Dornan. On television, Erivo has landed a main role as Holly Gibney on “The Outsider,” an HBO miniseries based on Stephen King’s horror novel. Erivo is also set to portray the late singer Aretha Franklin on Season 3 of National Geographic’s “Genius.”

Before gaining popularity in the States, Erivo starred in several UK stage productions, including “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” and “I Can't Sing! The X Factor Musical.” Interestingly enough, Erivo also played two characters that Whoopi Goldberg originated on the silver screen: Deloris Van Cartier in “Sister Act” and Celie Harris Johnson in “The Color Purple.” In 2015, “The Color Purple” was revived on Broadway where Erivo reprised her role. For her debut Broadway performance, Erivo won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. A Tony and a Grammy aren’t the only accolades “The Color Purple” brought Erivo. For an appearance on “The Today Show,” Erivo and her fellow “Color Purple” cast members won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Musical Performance in a Daytime Program.

Only a year after making her film debut, Erivo took center stage as abolitionist Harriet Tubman. “Harriet” received mostly positive reviews from critics, many of whom championed Erivo’s star-making turn. Before the film was even released, however, some skeptics took issue with the idea of a British actress playing an American icon. “People are definitely allowed to have opinions because we’re human beings,” Erivo said in response. “I don’t want to negate that at all. I do want people to see this and hopefully change their minds.” Since the film went on to garner an A+ CinemaScore, it’s safe to say that Erivo overcame any controversy. Besides, it’s not like they cast Julia Roberts as Tubman, as one studio executive suggested back in 1994.

As mentioned before, Erivo already has an Emmy, Grammy, and Tony, meaning she’s only an Oscar away from achieving EGOT status. As if joining the same ranks as Audrey Hepburn, Rita Moreno, and Whoopi Goldberg wasn’t impressive enough, Erivo could become the youngest person to do so. This record is currently held by Robert Lopez, who joined the EGOT club at age 39. Erivo, who’ll turn 33 in January 2020, will be in a prime position to break the record if the Academy loves “Harriet.” The film could actually bring Erivo two Oscar nominations for Best Actress and Best Original Song. Ironically, Lopez might also be in the song race for “Frozen II.” In any case, Erivo has 6 whole years to pull it off.