|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Summary
Cynthia Erivo makes history as the second Black woman nominated multiple times for Best Actress at the Oscars for her performance in Wicked. She joins Viola Davis and becomes a top contender for the 97th Academy Awards.
British actress, songwriter and singer Cynthia Chinasaokwu Onyedinmanasu Erivo has earned a Best Actress nomination for her role as Elphaba Thropp in Wicked. She is the second Black woman to receive multiple Oscar nominations in the prestigious category, joining Viola Davis.
The 97th Oscars nominations were announced on January 23, 2025, at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Los Angeles, following delays caused by recent wildfires in the region.
Cynthia’s captivating performance in Wicked, released on November 22, 2024, has been a highlight of this awards season. In her portrayal of Elphaba, she chose to sing live on set, bringing an authentic and emotional depth to her performance. This has captivated audiences and made her a leading contender in the awards race.
Cynthia Erivo is up against Karla Sofia Gascón (Emilia Pérez), Mikey Madison (Anora), Demi Moore (The Substance), and Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here). If she secures the Best Actress Oscar, she will join the elite ranks of Black women EGOT winners, including Viola Davis, Whoopi Goldberg, and Jennifer Hudson. Additionally, she could become the youngest EGOT winner in history.
This marks her third Academy Award nomination. In 2019, she received two nods for her portrayal of Harriet Tubman in Harriet, one for Best Actress and the other for Best Original Song, “Stand Up,” which she co-wrote with Joshuah Brian Campbell.
Wicked received 10 Oscar nominations this year, including recognition for Ariana Grande, Cynthia’s co-star, in the Supporting Actress category, making it her first-ever Oscar nomination.
Reacting to her historic nomination, Cynthia Erivo shared her gratitude in an Instagram post:
“Moments like this don’t come along very often, and when they do, it is sacrilege to let them pass by without a moment of gratitude. I am grateful to be a part of something that makes people feel seen, grateful to be a cog in the wheel of a piece that makes us believe in magic, grateful to have experienced a dream come true and deeply grateful for this unbelievable recognition.”
Viola Davis, who paved the way, achieved her historic dual nominations for The Help (2011) and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020). While Viola has yet to win the Best Actress category, she earned the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Fences (2016).
As Cynthia Erivo continues to break barriers, her achievements highlight the importance of black women’s representation and excellence in the film industry.
