Photo: Kevin Paul · License: CC BY 4.0 · Source: Wikimedia Commons
Cynthia Erivo
Mezzo-Soprano (lyric)
Born January 8, 1987 in Stockwell (39)
OperaMusical TheatreTheatre
Cynthia Erivo is a British actress, singer, and songwriter of Nigerian heritage whose Tony-winning performance as Celie in The Color Purple established her as one of the most versatile and vocally commanding performers of her generation.
5 Signature RolesSignature Roles
Spotlight
Defining moments and milestones
Career Trajectory
Cynthia Erivo emerged from RADA in 2010 and made her professional debut in 2010 as Leila in I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky at Theatre Royal Stratford East, followed by her West End debut in 2011 in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. Her career trajectory accelerated dramatically with her 2013 performance as Celie Harris in the Menier Chocolate Factory production of The Color Purple, which led to the acclaimed 2015 Broadway revival and her 2016 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical—a watershed moment that established her as a major theatrical force. Since then, she has expanded her reach across film, television, and music, earning an Academy Award nomination for Harriet (2019) and securing roles in major film adaptations including Wicked (2024–2025), while maintaining her status as one of the most vocally accomplished and dramatically intelligent performers working across multiple mediums.
Career Highlight
Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for Celie Harris in The Color Purple (2016)
Training & Education
La Retraite Roman Catholic Girls' School, Clapham Park; University of East London (music psychology, transferred); Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (BA Acting, 2010)
Available Performances
Recordings featuring Cynthia Erivo in the Society index
Additional recordings will appear here as the catalog expands.