The British actor and singer played abolitionist Harriet Tubman in Harriet, and Aretha Franklin in Genius: Aretha. Now she's defying gravity as Elphaba in Wicked. She spoke with Terry Gross in 2021 about some of her roles and her vocal training. Also, Ken Tucker shares his picks for great Christmas music, and David Bianculli reviews the Amazon Prime series The Sticky. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
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Singer and actress Cynthia Erivo has just been nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical Wicked.
Here she is singing one of that musical's most iconic songs.
It's time to try defying gravity.
I think I tried defying gravity and you can't pull me down.
Can't I make you understand?
You're having delusions of grandeur I'm through accepting limits Cause someone says they're so something I cannot change but till I try I'll never know Too long I've been afraid of losing love I guess I've lost Well if that's love it comes at much too high I call, I'd sooner die defying gravity.
That's Cynthia Erivo in 2016.
After coming to the US from England, Erivo starred in the Broadway revival of the musical the Color Purple, winning a Tony and Drama Desk Award for her starring role as Harriet Tubman in the film Harriet.
She was nominated for an Oscar and also was nominated for the movie's closing credits song Stand up, which she co wrote and sang.
Erivo played Aretha Franklin in the TV miniseries Genius Aretha.
She also co starred in the HBO series the Outsider and she released an album of songs she co wrote titled Chapter 1, Verse 1 and wrote a children's book called Remembered a Dream.
Ebare Erivo grew up in South London, where her parents emigrated from Nigeria.
Terry Gross spoke with Cynthia Erivo in 2021 and asked her about playing Aretha Franklin.
They began with this scene from the miniseries Genius Aretha.
This is set during Aretha's first recording session for Atlantic Records in 1967.
Erivo, as Aretha, is at the piano singing I never loved a man the way I loved you.