Before she ever turned green as the Wicked Witch, Cynthia Erivo was already casting spells on the world with her voice; belting out showstoppers on Broadway, starring in blockbuster movies, and collecting awards like they’re candy.

Born on January 8, 1987, in Stockwell, London, to Nigerian parents, Cynthia’s story is like a real-life fairy tale but with more grit, less green makeup, and Grammy wins. As a little girl, Cynthia performed in school plays and shows. One of her first big moments was singing “Silent Night” in a Christmas performance when she was just five years old. She told people later that she loved singing so much that she probably sang before she even spoke.

Growing up, Cynthia was all about music and drama. She went to La Retraite Roman Catholic Girls’ School, where she landed her first gig in a play called The Caucasian Chalk Circle. She even popped up on a TV show called Trust Me, I’m a Teenager. At 17, she started studying music psychology at the University of East London, but soon realized her true passion was acting. Eventually, she followed her dream and trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (often called RADA), one of the most respected performance schools in the world.

After finishing school, Cynthia started getting roles in stage shows. Her West End debut (that’s like London’s Broadway) was in a musical called The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. Soon after, she landed a life-changing part in a big Broadway show called The Color Purple. She played Celie, a character based on the heroine in a famous novel. Her performance was so powerful that she won major awards including a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical and a Grammy Award with her cast-mates for the show’s soundtrack.

Not content with just theater, Cynthia leaped into movies like a pro. In 2018, she wowed in Bad Times at the El Royale as a soulful singer named Darlene, and Widows as a tough cookie named Belle. Then, in 2019, she became Harriet Tubman in Harriet, the story of the brave woman who freed enslaved people. But Cynthia didn’t just act, she co-wrote songs and sang “Stand Up,” earning Oscar nods for Best Actress and Best Original Song, the first person of color to get both in the same year for a lead role.

Then came one of her most famous roles yet, Elphaba, the misunderstood girl who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West in the movie version of Wicked. In 2024, Cynthia starred in Wicked: Part I, and she returned in Wicked: For Good in 2025 opposite Ariana Grande. Both films have helped make Cynthia a household name around the world. People loved her performance as Elphaba so much that she was also nominated for the Golden Globe Awards and Oscars.

Off-stage, Cynthia’s life is just as colorful. She’s queer and bisexual, proudly coming to terms with it later in life. She dated actor Dean John-Wilson for years, and now she’s with writer Lena Waithe.

She’s Catholic, sometimes vegan, and a big advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and refugees, inspired by her mom, a super-hero nurse who raised Cynthia and her sister Stephanie mostly on her own after her parents split. Cynthia later named her production company Edith’s Daughter to honor her.

In 2025, she hosted the Tony Awards (viewership spiked!), released a book called Simply More about being “too much” in the best way, and even played Jesus in a Hollywood Bowl show. Plus, she snagged honors like the GLAAD Media Award and an MBE from the UK for her arts work.

Whether she’s singing powerful ballads, acting in dramatic films, or standing on stage in a glittering theater, Cynthia Erivo brings heart and magic to everything she does. She proves that dreams can come true with a little bit of sparkle, and a whole lot of hard work!