30 Surprising Facts About Cynthia Erivo You Probably Didn’t Know

Cynthia Erivo left the audiences astonished with her mind-blowing performance in “Harriet,” that earned her a number of accolades. The British actress, who is just an Oscar win away from getting the prestigious EGOT title, is currently taking over the big screens as well as the small. Here are some interesting facts about the actress that will make you love her more:

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1.  Erivo is one of the only 11 black actresses to be nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Actress category. She received an Oscar nomination for her performance in “Harriet.”
2.  While “Bad Times at the El Royale” was her first movie to be released, it was not shot first, as Erivo filmed “Widows” in the summer of 2017, and shot “Bad Times” movie at the beginning of 2018.
3.  Although both the movies hit the theatres in 2018, “Bad Times at the El Royale” was released theatrically one month prior to “Widows.”
4.  For the titular role in “Harriet,” producer Debra Martin Chase chose Erivo, because of her impressive track record – Tony, Granny and Emmy for “The Color Purple” musical on Broadway.
5.  However, after casting her in the key role of all-American icon Harriet Tubman in “Harriet,” the production faced with severe criticism as Erivo was a British actress.
6.  Cynthia Onyedinmanasu Chinasaokwu Erivo was born on January 8, 1987, in Stockwell, London, England to Nigerian parents. She was raised by her mother, who is an intuitive nurse.
7.  She attended the University of East London, where she studied music psychology degree, but in just a year into her degree, she started training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
8.  At the 59th Annual Grammy Awards, Erivo performed "God Only Knows" as a tribute to musicians who had died over the past year alongside John Legend in February 2017.
9.  Erivo’s first stage role was in “Marine Parade” by Simon Stephens at the Brighton Festival. Before this, she has appeared in British television programs like “Chewing Gum” and “The Tunnel.”
10.  She launched her own production company – “Edith’s Daughter” in the year 2020, and signed a deal with MRC media company, to develop various television projects.

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11.  In the third season of the anthology series “Genius,” most of Aretha Franklin’s music was said to be recorded by Erivo herself.
12.  Initially, before Erivo was cast in the role of African-American singer Darlene Sweet in “Bad Times at the El Royale,” Beyonce was in consideration. But, producers felt Erivo was better.
13.  Originally, the movie “Widows” featured a scene in which Erivo performed a song. The scene was cut from the final version, as director Steve McQueen wanted her performance to be “as pure as possible, no singing, no anything.”
14.  Being an accomplished singer in real life, she really enjoyed performing in the scene, but she agreed with the director’s decision, as she felt that was the best for the character.
15.  She produced and starred in “Carrier,” the scripted science fiction thriller, voicing the lead role of Raylene Watts, in the year 2019.
16.  Erivo will reprise the role of Raylene, in the film adaptation of the podcast “Carrier,” while also producing it. The movie has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
17.  On September 12, 2016, she starred as Cathy, alongside Joshua Henry in a one-night benefit concert performance of Jason Robert Brown's “The Last Five Years.”
18.  It was reported that the proceeds from the performance went given to the Brady Center, a national gun violence organization.
19.  During the filming of “Bad Times at the El Royale,” Erivo is said to have performed the singing scenes of her character Darlene Sweet, for real, as there was no pre-recorded soundtrack.
20.  In fact, for lengthy tracking shot scene behind the hotel mirrors, she had to perform “Try a Little Tenderness,” around 27 times.

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21.  She was in a relationship with the British actor and singer Dean John-Wilson, who played the title role in the original West End production of Disney's Aladdin at the Prince Edward Theatre. However, the relationship did not last long.
22.  Erivo’s first musical role was in John Adams' and June Jordan's “I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky” at Theatre Royal Stratford East.
23.  With her titular role in “Harriet,” being hugely a physical movie, Erivo had to go through several challenges related to weather, since they shot from September through December.
24.  In the year 2014, Erivo originated the role of Chenice in the “West End musical I Can't Sing! The X Factor Musical,” at the London Palladium. The production which opened on March 26, and closed on May 10, just six weeks and three days later.
25.  She played the role of Celie Harris in the Menier Chocolate Factory production of “The Color Purple,” in the year 2013. The role was originated onscreen by Whoopi Goldberg.
26.  Erivo made her Broadway debut in the 2015 Broadway revival transfer of the Menier Chocolate Factory production of “The Color Purple,,” in which she reprised her role of Celie Harris.
27.  She was dating fellow actor Mario Martinez for around two years, whom she met the day after she won a Tony in 2016. At that time, she was in a relationship with John-Wilson.
28.  Martinez has asked her out, even when she was dating John-Wilson, and after her break-up, he just walked up to her, and kissed her. There have been a couple of posts about their relationship on her Instagram account.
29.  However, the posts have since been deleted, which has started rumors about the possible separation of Erivo and Martinez, though they have not made anything official.
30.  Erivo performed a duet – Andra Day’s hit “Rise Up,” with Jodi DiPiazza on the charity benefit "Night of too Many Stars" hosted by Jon Stewart, in November 2017.
31.  Cynthia Erivo Net Worth: $3 Million