Cynthia Erivo, the British actress and singer nominated for a best actress Oscar for her role in Wicked, has opened up about the challenges she faced on her path to stardom. In a rare interview, the 38-year-old revealed how her sister helped her survive the darkest moments of her career, and spoke about feeling like an outsider.
Erivo, who plays Elphaba in the hit film adaptation of the musical, said she felt a deep connection to her character. “I understand what it feels like to be set apart from everybody else, and not fit in,” she explained. “Your only choice is to be who you are.” The film, released in November, became the highest-grossing movie adaptation of a stage musical in history within a month.
Born in south London to Nigerian parents, Erivo was raised by her mother after her father left the family. She is estranged from him, recalling that he disowned her and her sister at a tube station when she was 16. Despite these difficulties, Erivo’s mother supported her musical ambitions, and she discovered her voice at age 11 while attending a Catholic school in Clapham.
Erivo’s early career included roles in fringe musicals, the West End, and Broadway, before her big-screen break in Steve McQueen’s Widows (2018). She also earned an Emmy nomination for her portrayal of Aretha Franklin in Genius: Aretha. Reflecting on her journey, she admitted, “My family’s not a musical, acting family. I had no clue how to do this.”
