Grammy, Tony and Emmy Award winner Cynthia Erivo is taking the world by storm with her most recent successes in the film industry. From her Broadway debut in “The Color Purple” to her lead role in “Wicked,” Erivo continues to shatter barriers with her powerful vocals and performances.
In 2015, Erivo got her breakout role, starring in the Broadway musical “The Color Purple” as the protagonist, Celie. “The Color Purple” is a musical adaptation of the novel by Alice Walker following a young Black girl facing hardships of domestic and sexual violence.
Erivo mentioned she did not want her performance to be seen not with pity. Rather, she wanted us to see it as what empowered her to conquer hardship. She wanted the audience to see more than just a victim. As she dove into themes of resilience, she reimagined the role showing that their stories deserve to be shared.
Specifically, Erivo’s rendition of the ballad “I’m Here” made the scene come alive in the revival of the Broadway show.
The musical is what led her to win some of the most valuable awards in the industry. Erivo won a Tony for Best Leading Actress in a Musical in 2016. Later the next year, Erivo was awarded a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album for the musical’s revival. Erivo’s performance resonated deeply within the Black community, as she highlighted the importance of the representation of Black women’s stories on stage.
On the Today Show, the cast of “The Color Purple” performed the musical’s main title on May 3, 2016. The performance won the Daytime Emmy Award for outstanding musical performance in a Daytime program.
Her performance as Celie paved the way for her transition from stage to screen, often challenging, especially for women of color. But now she is an Academy Award away from an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony).
Her transition to film began with the release of “Harriet” in 2019. Erivo played Harriet Tubman, the abolitionist and racial justice leader.
Although Erivo had no prior film experience — something producer Debra Martin Chase said made her a risky pick — Chase knew that Erivo was who she wanted to star as their Harriet since she was in awe by her live performances.
The decision to cast Erivo, even with her lack of film experience, has shown how important trust in talent and power is, especially with film protagonists.
The role helped shape Erivo’s view on activism and advocating for the rights of Black women. Erivo hopes her role inspires other young black women who may feel as though their efforts are unseen.
Like Tubman, Erivo wanted to show that though Black women face challenges, they all deserve to be seen and heard.
“But Harriet was small, like me, and was able to do so much…I want young women to feel like they, too, have earned a place in this world,” Erivo said.
Historically, Black women have had to constantly prove how deserving they are to break into Hollywood due to systemic racism. Still, Erivo broke through those barriers, showing determination.
Along with playing the lead role, Erivo wrote and performed the soundtrack’s lead single, “Stand Up,” played during the end credits. This song got her nominated for the Oscar for Best Original Song in 2020.
In 2021, she joined the cast of “Wicked,” playing the lead role, Elphaba, alongside Ariana Grande as Glinda. As only the second Black woman to play Elphaba, Erivo wanted to show “everyone who feels different” just how impactful and necessary this representation is.
After a successful release, “Wicked” was nominated for 10 Academy Awards. Erivo was nominated — and is holding space for — the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
With the first act of the film, “Wicked” and the upcoming release of act two, “Wicked: For Good,” Erivo has continued to break barriers in the entertainment industry.
Her rise to fame further proves that Black actresses can achieve success in the entertainment industry with each new role.
If Erivo wins an Oscar, she will be the youngest person to achieve an EGOT. With her prior successes, Erivo has proved her strength and left the industry in awe.
