Cynthia Erivo (born 8 January 1987) is an EGOT-nominated British actress, singer, and songwriter. Erivo was born to Nigerian immigrants in Stockwell, South London. She attended La Retraite R.C Girls School. Erivo began a music psychology degree at the University of East London, however a year into her degree, she applied and subsequently trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Erivo's had an extensive career, winning the 2016 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, the 2017 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, and the 2017 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Musical Performance in a Daytime Program for her performance as Celie in the Broadway revival of The Color Purple. She performed the role in the 2013 Menier Chocolate Factory production as well. Erivo is also known for her performance as Deloris Van Cartier/Sister Mary Clarence in the U.K. tour of Sister Act. Erivo portrayed Harriet Tubman in the film Harriet (2019), recieving Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations, also writing and performing the song "Stand Up", which gained her a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Original Song. She portrayed Aretha Franklin in National Geographic's series Genius: Aretha (2021), earning her a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress and a Golden Globe nomination. As a singer, she has released singles as well as her solo album Ch. 1 Vs. 1 (2021). In 2024, she portrayed Elphaba opposite Ariana Grande's Glinda in the two-part film adaptation of hit epic fantasy musical Wicked, earning critical acclaim, a top 3 album in the Hot 200 with the first film's soundtrack, a top ten hit with her rendition of "Defying Gravity", and a Golden Globe nomination. <a href="https://www.last.fm/music/Cynthia+Erivo">Read more on Last.fm</a>. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.