Cynthia Erivo has been nominated for Best Actress in the 2025 Academy Awards for her acclaimed role as Elphaba in the movie musical, Wicked. She was nominated alongside Karla Sofia Gascon for Emilia Pérez, Mikey Madison for Anora, Demi Moore for The Substance, and Fernanda Torres for I’m Still Here.
This is her third nomination for an Oscar. She was previously nominated in 2019 for Best Actress for her portrayal of Harriet Tubman in Harriet and for Best Original Song for “Stand Up,” which she co-wrote and performed for Harriet. This feat makes her the second black woman to be nominated multiple times in the Best Actress category, behind the iconic Viola Davis.
Erivo has already won an Emmy, Tony, and a Grammy for her work in The Color Purple. If she wins the Oscar, she’ll become an EGOT and the first Nigerian to snag the accolade.
While we wait for the event, which will be held on March 2, 2025, we have curated her best performances, which span broadway, film, and music.
See below the seven greatest performances by Cynthia Erivo of all time:
7. Belle in Widows (2018)
Steve McQueen’s heist movie gave us Erivo as Belle, a getaway driver who didn’t just drive cars—she drove the plot. With her charisma, grit, and “don’t mess with me” energy, Erivo managed to shine in a film full of heavyweights.
6. Holly Gibney in The Outsider (2020)
Stephen King’s characters are always complicated, and Erivo’s Holly Gibney was no exception. As the investigator with a mind sharper than Obioma’s needle, she brought depth and intrigue to this HBO crime series. Her performance was so magnetic that fans were calling for a spinoff.
5. Darlene Sweet in Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)
In this stylish mystery-thriller, Erivo played a lounge singer who could sing you to sleep one minute and outwit a killer the next. Her live performances in the film were so raw and soulful that it felt like she wasn’t acting. She was just living.
4. Harriet Tubman in Harriet (2019)
Playing an American hero is no small feat, but Erivo made it look effortless. Her Harriet Tubman was equal parts fierce and vulnerable, a performance so good it snagged her two Oscar nominations. Oh, and that song “Stand Up”? If it didn’t give you chills, we need to talk.
3. Cynthia Erivo Live In Concert at The Royal Albert Hall
I don’t know what anybody is talking about, but this is my greatest performance of Erivo so far. I only put it at number three because at some point she was playful during the performance. For almost 2 hours she kept at it, belting out her rendition of some of the best songs by the GOATs. Her performance of Feeling Good is priceless.
2. Celie in The Color Purple (Broadway)
The role that made everyone sit up and say, “Who is this woman, and why am I crying in public?” Erivo’s portrayal of Celie had audiences throwing roses at her feet (metaphorically, of course). Her rendition of “I’m Here”? Simply legendary. It’s no wonder she walked away with a Tony, Grammy, and Daytime Emmy for this one. Obviously, this was a live show, and you’ve probably missed it. But see a performance of a song from the show she did with Jennifer Hudson.
1. Elphaba in Wicked (2024)
Let’s face it: Cynthia definitely defied gravity as Elphaba in the Wicked. With her powerhouse vocals and ability to make even the hardest hearts feel something, her Wicked debut is definitely one for the history books. Acting and singing 10 over 10.
