Cynthia Erivo has been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, with the honor specifically citing her contributions to music and drama.
The British actress and singer shared the news on Instagram this week. “This is a day I will never forget,” she wrote. She added that “to be given this recognition to celebrate the work that I love to do within the arts, specifically music and drama, is an honour I could never have thought would happen.”
She also said she hopes the MBE “shows that I care deeply about the work and will continue to do so to the best of my abilities.”
The MBE is one of the most widely known honors in the British system. Recipients are appointed by the monarch for significant contributions to their field. The award is announced twice a year through the New Year Honours and the Birthday Honours lists. It’s been given to prominent figures across the arts, sports, and public service for decades.
For Erivo, the recognition reflects a career that’s covered a lot of ground. She won a Tony Award for her lead performance in “The Color Purple” on Broadway. She earned an Academy Award nomination for portraying Harriet Tubman in the 2019 film “Harriet” and picked up a Golden Globe nomination alongside it. More recently, she starred as Elphaba in the 2024 film adaptation of “Wicked.” She had been attached to that role for years. The film became one of the biggest musical releases of 2024, pairing her with Ariana Grande in the lead roles.
The Instagram post drew more than 335,000 likes.
Erivo was born and raised in London to a Nigerian family. She built her career on the West End, then crossed to Broadway.
Music has always run alongside her acting work. She wrote and performed “Stand Up” for the “Harriet” soundtrack, earning an Oscar nomination for best original song on top of her acting nod. She’s also a regular live performer at major ceremonies and events.
Her post this week was personal and low-key. She didn’t play up the title or the occasion. She talked about the arts, about music and drama, and about wanting to keep doing that work well.
That’s been a consistent note throughout her career. Erivo doesn’t make a lot of noise about recognition. She’s collected some of the biggest awards in theater and film, and she tends to move on to the next project. The MBE fits that pattern. It’s an honor built on years of sustained work, and by the sound of it, she’s already thinking about what comes next.
