"Wicked" star Cynthia Erivo on soaring to success

Before gracing such grand venues as the Academy Awards, Cynthia Erivo could be found at the Stratford East Theatre in London, not far from where she grew up, and where she'd filled any role she could: "Working the bar or being an usher. And when I got to be in a play, I was so happy. That was a big deal for me."

The talent that made her a big deal is undeniable – a dynamic vocalist who convincingly took on the role of Aretha Franklin, one of the many portrayals garnering Erivo critical acclaim.

Erivo performs Aretha Franklin's "How I Got Over" in the 2021 miniseries "Genius: Aretha":