CULTURE
SHINING STAR
CYNTHIA ERIVO
Playing one of her musical inspirations has been a dream come true, but now the Oscar nominee is telling her own story with a debut album
When London-born actress and singer Cynthia Erivo was offered the chance to portray queen of soul Aretha Franklin, she was hit by a stream of emotions.
“I was surprised, honoured, gobsmacked, blown away, overwhelmed – all of those things,” she says, chatting exclusively to hello! from her home in Los Angeles.
“I was given the opportunity to tell a story of a hero of mine, of someone who inspires the way I sing, the way I hear music. It was one of the most incredible and complicated journeys I’ve ever taken with a character.”