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Cynthia Erivo was born Stockwell, London, England, on January 8, 1987, meaning that today is her 39th birthday. Erivo got her start in theater, appearing in productions of shows like The Color Purple and Sister Act. After making a name for herself on Broadway, Erivo made her television debut in 2015’s Chewing Gum, before appearing in shows like Mr Selfridge, Broad City, and The Boss Baby: Back in Business. While the Wicked movies are great and act as a fantastic showcase for Erivo’s musical and acting talents, neither of them is her best movie. Instead, that honor belongs to the 2018 film Bad Times at the El Royale. Directed by Drew Goddard, the film tells the story of seven strangers who show up at the same hotel and eventually clash throughout the night.
Bad Times at the El Royale Deserves Way More Attention
Although Bad Times… was only Erivo’s second film, she is the standout performer in it. She is absolutely incredible, stealing the spotlight in almost every scene she’s in. Erivo’s monologue near the end of the film is one of the movie’s highlights, showcasing how fantatsic of a performer she is. This is made even more impressive by the fact that she was in the film alongside major actors like Chris Hemsworth, Jeff Bridges, Dakota Johnson, and Jon Hamm.
Bad Times at the El Royale and Erivo’s subsequent performance in Harriet are what really launched her into stardom, paving the road for her to eventually star in Wicked. Frankly, it’s likely that Erivo wouldn’t be in Wicked if it weren’t for Bad Times at the El Royale, which is why it is a great film for fans of hers to watch. After all, the film only made $31.8 million on a budget of $32 million, meaning that many Wicked viewers probably haven’t seen it.
