The world may already know Glinda the Good Witch as chart-topping pop star Ariana Grande, but fans have also quickly fallen in love with her Wicked co-star, Cynthia Erivo.
While she may not be as big of a household name as her on-screen bestie, Cynthia has long been an undeniable force in the entertainment world – starring in productions such as The Color Purple and Harriet.
As fans continue to flock to the cinemas to visit the land of Oz, we get to know more about the film’s newest star.
Who is Cynthia Erivo?
Born in London on January 8, 1987, Cynthia Erivo has been involved in the world of theatre since 2010.
Starring in a West End production of The Color Purple in 2013, Cynthia rose to fame in the musical world when she was cast as Celie Harris Johnson in the play’s 2015 Broadway revival.
While joining the Broadway production may be the highest accolade for many performers, her stand-out role received extensive critical acclaim, earning Cynthia a Grammy, Tony, and Daytime Emmy Award.
Cynthia also made history as the youngest woman and only the second Black woman ever to be nominated for the “Triple Crown of Acting” (Tony, Grammy, and Oscar) for her performance in Harriet, where she portrayed the legendary abolitionist Harriet Tubman.
Is Cynthia Erivo married?
While Cynthia has not spoken extensively about her romantic life, it is believed that she is currently in a relationship with producer Lena Waithe.
The pair first crossed paths in 2018 while attending the Met Gala, with Lena later reflecting on their initial meeting to Variety.
“The first time I met her was at the Met Gala, which is where all the cool kids go to meet each other. I had seen her in The Color Purple twice. I remember seeing her on TV when Oprah talked about doing it and her being on the screen. I remember thinking, ‘Who is this tiny person with a British accent?’ We’ve just been vibing her ever since.”
In early 2022, Cynthia seemingly confirmed the couple’s relationship through a sweet birthday tribute to Instagram, writing, “Today is when we celebrate a woman whose heart is bigger than the body that houses it. Happy birthday @lenawhite I…… You know the rest! 💕💕”
Although they have yet to publicly confirm their relationship, Lena has been spotted alongside Cynthia throughout her Wicked press tour, with Lena taking to Instagram to re-share Cynthia’s tribute to the cast and crew.
Speaking on her decision to keep her romance out of the public eye, Cynthia told Vanity Fair, “I’m very tight-lipped with my relationships, ’cause I don’t think that my relationship is for anyone else but me.”
“I spend so much of my life sharing everything, whether it’s my work or my soul or my life in speeches. I think I give enough of myself that I’m allowed to keep something for me. It’s enough for people to know that I’m a queer person who could have relationships with men or women or neither.”
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