Get to know know queer Wicked star Cynthia Erivo – including who she’s dating
Cynthia Erivo plays Elphaba in Wicked (Universal Pictures)
Cynthia Erivo is the name on everyone’s lips again with Wicked: For Good being released today (21 November).
The 38-year-old actor, alongside her Wicked co-star Ariana Grande, has become the centre-point of a cultural phenomena with the release of the musical adaptation and it’s sequel.
But the star is not just an amazing performer, she has also lived a rich and interesting life. Here are just a few of the facts about Cynthia Erivo.
Cynthia Erivo’s past roles
Cynthia Erivo’s debut screen role was in Chewing Gum. The star played Magdaline in the sitcom, debuting in the 2015 episode Tolled Road. Fun fact: her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey also appeared in Chewing Gum’s second season as Ash.
After Chewing Gum, Erivo has had roles in the likes of Mr Selfridge, Broad City and The Outsider.
She has also shared her expertise as a guest judge on Strictly Come Dancing and RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Erivo has featured in a number of movies too, most notable Widows and Disney’s live-action remake of Pinocchio, in which she played The Blue Fairy.
Does Cynthia Erivo have a partner?
Cynthia Erivo identifies as queer and bisexual. The star first spoke openly about her sexuality in an August 2022 issue of British Vogue. She has always been a standout advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, even before coming out.
While Erivo keeps her private life, well, private (and good for her!) she has been in a relationship with actress, producer and screenwriter Lena Waithe since late 2024.
Cynthia Erivo is British-Nigerian
While Erivo was born in Stockwell, London, her parents are both Nigerian and immigrated to the UK after the Nigerian Civil War began in 1967.
Her mother is a nurse
Cynthia Erivo’s mother raised the star after she was disowned by her father at 16 years old. She remains estranged from him but has a great relationship with her maternal parent, even naming her production company “Edith’s Daughter” as a tribute to her.
She first saw Wicked at 25
The star watched the show at the Apollo Theatre in Victoria in the ninth year of the adaptation’s run. The graduate saved up just enough money to go for her birthday.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s matching tattoos
To celebrate their co-appearance in the musical adaptation, and to solidify their friendship, Grande and Erivo both have four matching tattoos – their most iconic being the words “for good” written on their palms.
The others include matching poppies on the outside of their hands, and hearts on the back of their ankles.
She is a Capricorn
The Wicked star was born on 8 January 1987, making her a Capricorn!
Cynthia Erivo’s hair
Over the past few years, Erivo has had a clean-shaven look – and she wears it well!
In the past, Erivo has had hairstyles like a bleached buzz cut to colourful braids, but she decided to shave her head to take on the role of Elphaba in Wicked.
She took the plunge because the role involved hours in the makeup chair and beautiful braided wigs. Having her head shaved meant her scalp could be painted green, making the wigs look more natural.
She studied Music Psychology at the University of East London
Erivos studied at the university in 2004, but transferred to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art a year later and transferred, eventually graduating with a bachelor’s in acting.
She has a pet dog
The star has two dogs, Caleb and Gigi. She first shared pics of her younger puppy, Caleb, in 2018, writing: “All mine!! No really, meet my new puppy.”
She is a vegan
She has been a vegan since 2018 in large part for her health. Her co-star, Ariana Grande, is also a vegan and has been since 2013.
Her dream role is to play Serena Williams
Speaking to Ebony Magazine in 2018, Cynthia Erivo said she would love to portray athlete Serena Williams, saying: “There’s this fiery, determined champion, and then there’s this really gorgeous, almost Marilyn Monroe-esque siren—something really quite ethereal,”
She has won a Tony, an Emmy, and a Grammy
The star has also been nominated for an Oscar twice – for Best Actress and Best Original Song in 2020, both for the film Harriet.
She is one Oscar win away from an EGOT designation
The EGOT designation stands for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. Winning the award would make her one of the few artists to earn the accolade.
She was nominated for her role in Wicked at the 2025 Oscars, but lost out to Mikey Madison.
But after the early reactions to Wicked: For Good have been positive (would you expect anything less?), here’s hoping 2026 will be her year to bag the EGOT!
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