Cynthia Erivo, the acclaimed star of stage and screen, is celebrating another remarkable year, having been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the New Year Honours for her contributions to music and drama.

The celebrated performer described the recognition as “an honour I could never have thought would happen.”

She further commented, “I hope it shows that I care deeply about the work and will continue to do so to the best of my abilities.”

Erivo is currently captivating audiences in *Wicked: For Good*, a role that has already garnered her a fifth Golden Globe nomination, with a potential fourth Oscar nomination on the horizon.

The 38-year-old already holds a Grammy, Daytime Emmy, and Tony Award, placing her just an Oscar away from achieving EGOT status – a rare accomplishment recognizing excellence in television, music, film, and Broadway.

Notably, Erivo’s success is entirely self-made, achieved without industry connections or family advantages.

“My family’s not a musical, acting family. I had no clue how to do this,” Erivo shared with The Guardian last year.

Born to Nigerian parents who immigrated to the UK in their early twenties, Erivo’s upbringing was marked by her parents’ separation when she and her younger sister, Stephanie, were young. She has spoken of her father ceasing contact when she was 16.

“I think it made me quite angry as a teenager. I sought out a way to prove that I was loveable, that I was good enough to be loved,” she told the BBC.

Her mother, Edith, a nurse, raised the sisters in Stockwell, South London.

“Mum always said I sang before I spoke, but I don’t remember that,” Erivo told Harper’s Bazaar in 2021, recalling her first experience of the power of her voice during a nativity play at age five.

“I had a solo (Silent Night). I loved that I got to sing a song by myself, and that this song made people smile and be happy.”

Having discovered her passion for acting, she performed in a musical adaptation of Bertolt Brecht’s *The Caucasian Chalk Circle* at age 11.

At 15, she starred in a youth production of *Romeo and Juliet* at London’s Young Vic Theatre, but remained uncertain about pursuing a professional career.

Initially, she enrolled at the University of East London to study music psychology.

However, she soon changed course, securing a place at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).

Her journey wasn’t without its challenges. Erivo balanced her studies with work, and she told the Guardian that she was sometimes perceived as “lazy” when she was “just tired,” which she believes hindered her from receiving prominent roles.

Despite these obstacles, she secured representation and landed several stage roles after graduation, before making her West End debut as Madeleine in *The Umbrellas of Cherbourg* in 2011.

In 2013, she starred as Celie in *The Color Purple* in the West End, later transferring with the production to Broadway, where she won a Tony Award. The production also received a Grammy and a Daytime Emmy.

This success propelled her into the film industry, leading to roles in movies like Steve McQueen’s thriller *Widows* (2018).

Her starring role in the biopic *Harriet* (2019), portraying abolitionist Harriet Tubman, solidified her place in Hollywood.

She received Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for both Best Actress and Best Original Song (“Stand Up”).

Erivo’s television career has also flourished with roles in series such as the Stephen King adaptation *The Outsider* and *Genius: Aretha Franklin*, where she portrayed the legendary singer.

*Wicked*, based on the popular musical, has brought Erivo even greater recognition, owing to her widely praised portrayal of Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West, alongside Ariana Grande as Glinda the Good.

The pair garnered attention for their close bond, evident in heartfelt interviews and matching tattoos, as well as Erivo’s striking nail art.

The recently released sequel, *Wicked: For Good*, has generated headlines, including an incident where Erivo intervened to protect Grande at an event in Singapore after a fan crossed a barrier.

Erivo’s performance has been met with acclaim, and an Oscar win in March, leading to EGOT status, would be a fitting culmination of her achievements.

Erivo has spoken about her connection to Elphaba: “I understand what it feels like to be set apart from everybody else and not fit in.”

“Yes, I understand what it feels like to be a kid whose father doesn’t care; yes, I understand what it’s like to feel alone when you’re in a room full of people who don’t know where you’re coming from or why you’re so tired, or why you do things your way.”

She told the Guardian: “Me and Elphaba had that same journey, trying to fit, and it doesn’t work. Your only choice is to be who you are.”

Lily, 11, performed a song with the pop star and appears in the film’s trailer.

The incident in Australia comes after the man was jailed for nine days and deported from Singapore for public nuisance.

The Huddersfield youngster attends a special screening of Wicked: For Good with friends and family.

The actress and singer has not commented on the incident, but appeared visibly shaken by it.

One fan described the film as an “analogy for otherness” after Thursday’s early showing

Cynthia Erivo, the celebrated star of “Wicked,” is capping off a remarkable year with the prestigious honor of being appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the New Year Honours list, recognizing her significant contributions to music and drama.

The acclaimed stage and screen actress expressed her gratitude, calling the news “an honour I could never have thought would happen.”

She further stated, “I hope it shows that I care deeply about the work and will continue to do so to the best of my abilities.”

Currently, audiences can see the British talent in “Wicked: For Good,” a role that has already garnered her a fifth Golden Globe nomination, with anticipation building for a potential fourth Oscar nomination next month.

With a Grammy, Daytime Emmy, and Tony Award already under her belt, the 38-year-old is only an Oscar away from achieving EGOT status – a rare accomplishment recognizing excellence in television, music, film, and Broadway.

Notably, Erivo’s accomplishments have been achieved independently, without industry connections or familial advantages.

“My family’s not a musical, acting family. I had no clue how to do this,” Erivo shared with The Guardian last year.

Born to Nigerian immigrants who arrived in the UK in their early twenties, Erivo’s upbringing saw her parents separate when she and her younger sister, Stephanie, were young. Erivo has stated that her father ceased all contact when she was 16.

“I think it made me quite angry as a teenager. I sought out a way to prove that I was loveable, that I was good enough to be loved,” she revealed in an interview with the BBC.

Her mother, Edith, a nurse, raised Erivo and her sister in Stockwell, South London.

“Mum always said I sang before I spoke, but I don’t remember that,” Erivo told Harper’s Bazaar in 2021, recalling her early realization of her voice’s impact during a nativity play at the age of five.

“I had a solo (Silent Night). I loved that I got to sing a song by myself, and that this song made people smile and be happy.”

Fueled by her passion for acting, she participated in a musical adaptation of Bertolt Brecht’s “The Caucasian Chalk Circle” at age 11.

At 15, she starred in a youth production of “Romeo and Juliet” at London’s Young Vic Theatre, but remained uncertain about pursuing a career in the field.

Initially, she enrolled at the University of East London to study music psychology after finishing school.

However, she soon shifted her focus and secured a place at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).

Her journey was not without challenges. Balancing her studies with work, she told The Guardian that she was once perceived as “lazy” when she was actually “just tired”, which she thought led to her not being offered big roles.

Despite these obstacles, she secured representation and landed several stage roles following graduation, culminating in her West End debut as Madeleine in “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” in 2011.

In 2013, she starred as Celie in “The Color Purple” in the West End, a role she reprised on Broadway, earning a Tony Award. The production also won a Grammy and a Daytime Emmy.

This success propelled her into the film industry, with appearances in movies such as Steve McQueen’s thriller “Widows” (2018).

Her leading role in the biopic “Harriet” (2019), the story of abolitionist Harriet Tubman, catapulted her to Hollywood stardom.

She received Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for both Best Actress and Best Original Song (“Stand Up”).

Subsequently, she landed television roles in shows such as the Stephen King mini-series “The Outsider” and “Genius: Aretha Franklin,” where she portrayed the iconic singer.

“Wicked,” based on the acclaimed musical, brought her further attention, with Erivo receiving critical acclaim for her portrayal of Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West, alongside Ariana Grande as Glinda the Good.

The pair became a viral sensation, captivating audiences with their emotional interviews, matching tattoos, and Erivo’s distinctive nail art.

The recently released sequel, “Wicked: For Good,” has also made headlines, with Erivo stepping in to protect Grande at an event in Singapore after a fan breached the barrier and approached her.

Erivo has garnered rave reviews for her reprised role, making a potential Oscar win in March, and the coveted EGOT status, an extraordinary culmination of her achievements.

Erivo has spoken about her connection to Elphaba, explaining: “I understand what it feels like to be set apart from everybody else, and not fit in.”

“Yes, I understand what it feels like to be a kid whose father doesn’t care; yes, I understand what it’s like to feel alone when you’re in a room full of people who don’t know where you’re coming from or why you’re so tired, or why you do things your way.”

She told the Guardian: “Me and Elphaba had that same journey, trying to fit, and it doesn’t work. Your only choice is to be who you are.”

Lily, 11, performed a song with the pop star and appears in the film’s trailer.

The incident in Australia comes after the man was jailed for nine days and deported from Singapore for public nuisance.

The Huddersfield youngster attends a special screening of Wicked: For Good with friends and family.

The actress and singer has not commented on the incident, but appeared visibly shaken by it.

One fan described the film as an “analogy for otherness” after Thursday’s early showing