The 'Harriet' actress claims she was given the cold shoulder in London after getting lauded in the United States for her role in the stage musical 'The Color Purple'.
- November 30, 2019
AceShowbiz - Cynthia Erivo was ignored in her native London after winning a Tony Award for her performance in "The Color Purple" on Broadway in 2017.
The British born actress, who is the star of recently released movie "Harriet", admitted in an interview with The Daily Mail's Baz Bamigbiye that after winning the prestigious award for the role which she originated in London, she thought she might be offered a show in the West End, or land a juicy TV role - but only one offer came her way.
"I was offered the Blue Fairy in Pinocchio at the National Theatre," Erivo told Bamigboye. "I knew what hard work looked like - and I've never shied away from it - but I wasn't prepared to go backwards."
"To take that part would be almost like laughing at the people who'd invested so much energy in me," added the actress, as she explained why she refused to consider taking the part.
Since then, she has starred in British director Steve McQueen's Hollywood remake of "Widows", landed the lead role in Harriet, the movie about a former slave who helped other slaves escape to freedom, and is currently filming TV biopic "Genius", as the queen of soul Aretha Franklin.
Erivo credits her mother, Edith, who moved to London from her home in Nigeria when she was 24 and put herself through college while studying for two degrees, for her success.
"She has a streak of stubbornness in her," she said of her hardworking mum. "She decided to learn to drive; so she did. I was in the car! I don't remember being terrified."
