Cynthia Erivo Biography

Fast Facts

• Majored in psychology during her brief stint at the University of East London
• Applied to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts at the behest of a former director, not expecting to actually get in
• Played the starring role of Sister Mary Clarence in a United Kingdom run of Sister Act
• Won a Daytime Emmy for her performance on a May, 2016 episode of NBC's The Today Show
• Won the 2016 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in the Broadway production The Color Purple, and a Grammy in 2017 for the cast album of the same production
• Cowrote and sang "Fly Before You Fall" on the soundtrack for the film Beyond the Lights
• Did a one-night show of the musical The Last Five Years, in 2017, the proceeds of which were donated to The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence