All eyes are on London's Leicester Square tonight for the highly anticipated Wicked For Good premiere, where homegrown talent Cynthia Erivo takes centre stage. While she's now a global phenomenon, her remarkable story began right here in the capital.
From Stockwell to Stardom: Erivo's London Beginnings
The actress and singer, now 38, was born in Stockwell, South London on 8 January 1987. Cynthia Onyedinmanasu Chinasaokwu Erivo was raised by Nigerian immigrant parents; her mother, Edith, worked as a nurse. Her parents separated when she was young, and she has a sister named Nicolette.
Erivo's educational journey took place entirely within London. She attended La Retraite Roman Catholic Girls' School in Clapham Park, where her early passion for performance emerged with roles in productions like Brecht's Caucasian Chalk Circle.
She initially pursued a degree in music psychology at the University of East London in 2004. However, her path dramatically changed when, just a year into her course, she applied and was accepted to the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). She graduated with a bachelor's degree in acting in 2010.
A Meteoric Rise from Stage to Screen
The 5ft-tall star began her professional career on British television, with appearances in shows like Chewing Gum and The Tunnel. Her powerful stage presence soon became evident in London theatre productions, including I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East.
Her big break arrived in 2013 when she took on the monumental role of Celie Harris in the Menier Chocolate Factory production of The Color Purple. This performance catapulted her to international fame, leading to her Broadway debut in 2015, where she reprised the role alongside Jennifer Hudson.
Erivo's career has since blossomed across film and television. She has starred in the live Disney adaptation of Pinocchio and delivered a critically acclaimed portrayal of Aretha Franklin in the National Geographic series Genius.
The EGOT Dream and Personal Milestones
Cynthia Erivo's trophy cabinet is a testament to her extraordinary talent. She has already secured a Tony Award, a Grammy, and an Emmy. A win at the Oscars for her role in Wicked For Good would see her achieve a complete EGOT, making her the youngest person ever to earn this coveted honour.
Despite her London upbringing, Erivo now resides in the United States. She has been open about her personal life, identifying as bisexual on the cover of British Vogue and describing her coming out as a "moment of relaxation and acceptance of everything that I am". Her activism within the LGBT+ community was recognised when she received the Schrader Award at the Los Angeles LGBT Centre gala.
Tonight's premiere marks a triumphant return to the city where it all began, cementing Cynthia Erivo's status as one of London's most successful and inspiring artistic exports.
