Nigerian UK-based actress and singer Cynthia Erivo has made Golden Globes history as the first Black woman ever to receive two nominations for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. Her latest nomination is for her powerhouse performance as Elphaba in Wicked: For Good, following her nod last year for the first Wicked film.
This historic moment highlights a long-standing lack of diversity in the category. Before Erivo’s second nomination, only 12 Black women had ever been nominated in the category since its inception, with Angela Bassett remaining the only winner for her 1994 portrayal of Tina Turner.
Upon learning the news while rehearsing for a play in London, an emotional Erivo called it “a beautiful, beautiful surprise”. She dedicated the honour to her supporters and the entire Wicked team.
However, she also framed the accolade as a call for greater change, telling Deadline, “It’s amazing, but also let’s make sure that it doesn’t stay this way… Being the first is always wonderful, but let’s make sure I’m not the last”.
The achievement is a point of immense pride for Nigeria, as Erivo—born to Nigerian parents in London—joins an elite lineage of iconic Black performers while forging a new path for future generations of African and diaspora talent in Hollywood.
