Cynthia Erivo was nominated for two Oscars Monday morning. She was nominated for Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in Harriet and Best Original Song for “Stand Up” with Joshuah Brian Campbell. Erivo is the only actor of color to be nominated in an acting category.

For the actress nomination, she is nominated alongside Scarlett Johansson for Marriage Story, Saoirse Ronan for Little Women, Charlize Theron for Bombshell and Renée Zellweger for Judy. 

Erivo is just the 12th Black actress to be nominated for the award. Ruth Negga was the last Black actress nominated for Loving in 2017. Halle Berry is still the only one to win the Best Actress award. Also, this puts Erivo one step closer to an EGOT. She is only missing the Oscar.

Directed by Kasi Lemmons, Harriet also starred Leslie Odom Jr., Jennifer Nettles, Joe Alwyn, Janelle Monáe, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Clarke Peters, Henry Hunter Hall, Zackary Momoh, Deborah Ayorinde, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Omar Dorsey and Antonio J. Bell. Gregory Allen Howard wrote the screenplay with Lemmons.

After the controversy surrounding her playing Tubman in the film, Erivo told Oprah Winfrey, “I want to say that I understand where some of it comes from. I understand that there is a lack for us as actors, as women of color, as Black actresses, when it comes to playing roles that are full and grounded and have gravitas. But I also want people to know that I worked really hard and that nothing I’ve ever gotten has come to me without that. I want people to see it first. See it, and then make your judgments is what I’m saying. Give me a chance.”

 

READ MORE:

Matthew A. Cherry Lands Oscar Nomination For ‘Hair Love’

 

Photo: Focus Features

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