Cynthia Erivo’s Greatest Big Screen Performances
She exploded onto the West End stage with powerhouse performances in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Sister Act and The Color Purple. The latter transferred to Broadway due to its critical success and gave Erivo her New York debut plus her first Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. So it was no surprise that Cynthia Erivo was headed for stardom on the big screen.
To celebrate the release of WICKED: FOR GOOD, which is now available to by or rent at home on digital platforms, we take a look at the big screen performances that paved the way (along the Yellow Brick Road) for Cynthia Erivo’s career defining role as Elphaba in the record-breaking movie musical which has become a cultural moment in its own right!
BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE (2018)
Making her film debut in Drew Goddard’s gripping thriller, Erivo played one of the mysterious guests checking in at the El Royale Hotel. As failed singer Darlene Sweet, she had the chance to demonstrate both her acting and singing chops and, as the storylines of the unrelated guests begin to overlap and gunshots ring out, Darlene must make a choice to ensure her survival. [review]
WIDOWS (2018)
In Steve McQueen’s explosive crime drama, Erivo plays Belle, a babysitter, who joins a group of women whose husbands and partners were killed in a failed heist and are now fighting back against the gang and politicians who threaten their futures. Here we saw another side to Erivo, as she put her considerable energies into revealing her inner action hero. Acting alongside one of her real life heroes, Viola Davis, was a bonus.
HARRIET (2019)
In her portrayal of Harriet Tubman and her extraordinary escape from slavery, Cynthia Erivo truly positioned herself as a force of nature in Harriet. Channelling Tubman’s courage, ingenuity and tenacity in her determination to free hundreds of slaves and change the course of history gave Erivo the chance to immerse herself in a role tailor made for her extensive range. Harriet also marked a turning point in her cinema career, with her first Academy Award nominations coming her way in two categories, Best Actress In A Leading Role and Best Original Song. [review]
DRIFT (2023)
A hidden gem amongst Cynthia Erivo’s filmography, Drift tells the story of a young Liberian refugee named Jacqueline who escapes her war-torn country only to reach a Greek island. As she offers massages to tourists in her daily struggle for survival and tries to keep the memories that haunt her at bay, Erivo gave a delicate portrayal of desperation and grief that hit hard. [review]
WICKED (2024) & WICKED: FOR GOOD (2025)
Cynthia Erivo’s biggest role is undoubtably Elphaba in the two-part musical adaptation of the much-loved Broadway show. Lovingly transferred to the big screen by superfan Jon M. Chu, the untold story of the witches of Oz – namely Elphaba (The Wicked Witch of the West) and Ariana Grande’s Glinda (The Good Witch) – was so successful that it broke box-office records and became a cultural phenomenon. Erivo gave a heartbreaking portrayal of Elphaba from her school days, from her optimistic belief in the Wizard of Oz to realising she has the strength to ‘defy gravity’ and then ultimately accepting her limitations. Her powerhouse acting, plus an innate ability to perform songs at an unparalleled level, earned her a second Oscar nomination for Wicked and made her a household name. [review]
Wicked: For Good is now available to buy or rent at home on digital platforms.
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