Cynthia Erivo is the name on everyone’s lips again, with Wicked: For Good being released on November 21. The 38-year-old actor, alongside her Wicked co-star Ariana Grande, is at the center of a cultural phenomenon as audiences dive into the musical adaptation and its sequel. But Erivo’s brilliance goes beyond the stage and screen; she’s also lived a rich and fascinating life.
The Tony-winning star openly identifies as queer and bisexual, having first discussed her sexuality in British Vogue’s August 2022 issue, and she’s been an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. Born in Stockwell, London, to Nigerian parents who immigrated after the Nigerian Civil War, Erivo was raised by her mother after being disowned by her father.
Her deep bond with her mother inspired the name of her production company, Edith’s Daughter. Speaking to Harper’s Bazaar in November 2025, Erivo said:
I love a heel, I love a nail, I love a jaw, I love a bald head, I love a good outfit. It is legitimately a way of just expressing parts of myself.
She is now more comfortable than ever in her queer identity, dedicating her voice and platform to support other LGBTQ+ individuals. Her book, Simply More, inspired by her GLAAD Media Award speech, emphasizes shining a light for those still finding their way.
Why Cynthia Erivo is ‘Very Tight-Lipped’ About Her Relationships
Cynthia Erivo is unapologetically private when it comes to her love life. Speaking to Vanity Fair in November 2024 alongside Ariana Grande, Erivo explained:
I’m very tight-lipped with my relationships, ’cause I don’t think that my relationship is for anyone else but for me. I spend so much of my life sharing everything — whether it’s my work or my soul or my life in speeches. I think I give enough of myself that I’m allowed to keep something for me.
Wicked: For Good star admitted she might reconsider in the future, but for now, this is her choice:
It’s enough for people to know that I’m a queer person who could have relationships with men or women or neither.
Her public journey toward queerness has been deeply personal. In May 2024, Erivo spoke at the Los Angeles LGBT Center Gala about “claiming my queerness in public, and particularly in the public eye,” describing it as a risk worth taking for freedom.
I used to say that it felt like I was looking at my own community from inside a glass box. They were vibrant and beautiful, falling in love. And I had my nose pressed up against the glass, looking out at all of you, separate and apart.
Erivo’s experience illustrates the importance of self-discovery and public authenticity:
It took time for me to outgrow my box, but time is a gift that gives us space to see ourselves clearly enough to know that denying a part of oneself is a disservice to the whole being. And now, the glass is shattered and there is no glass in sight.
In British Vogue, she added insight into the pressures queer individuals face:
[LGBTQ+ people] still feel the need to be constantly justifying why we deserve to be treated as equal beings, when really the only difference is that we love differently and we express ourselves differently. Rather than being chastised for that, we should be commended for being brave. That’s the most important thing: giving people the space to show up fully as who they are.
Cynthia Erivo proves that being public about one’s identity doesn’t mean surrendering every private detail.
Is Wicked: For Good Star Single? Cynthia Erivo’s Partner & Dating History
While Wicked: For Good has everyone talking about her role as Elphaba, Cynthia Erivo has an impressive history both on Broadway and in Hollywood. After rising to fame as Celie in The Color Purple revival, she won a Tony Award, a Grammy, and a Daytime Emmy, later starring in Widows, Bad Times at the El Royale, and Harriet, which earned her two Academy Award nominations.
Offscreen, her romantic life has drawn attention, though Erivo remains reserved. She has been linked to actress and screenwriter Lena Waithe since late 2024 (per Style Caster). Waithe, the creator of The Chi, and an Emmy-winning writer for Master of None, first met Erivo at the 2018 Met Gala (via Variety). Erivo celebrated their friendship on Instagram at the time, writing:
I finally found my sis. Lena you are absolutely everything. You are perfection. What a meeting of minds, glad to have you in my life! Stuck like glue!!! SHINE QUEEN SHINE!!
The relationship reportedly became romantic following Waithe’s divorce, and they have attended events together. Erivo’s previous relationships reportedly include actor Mario Martinez (2017–2019) and British actor Dean-John Wilson (2013–2017).
Could Cynthia Erivo ever share more about her personal life, or is this her permanent boundary? Readers, spill your thoughts. Comment below and let the conversation shine!
Wicked: For Good is now in theaters.
