Variety will honor two-time Academy Award nominee, Tony, Grammy and Emmy winner and “Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo at the 2025 Palm Springs Film Festival with its Creative Impact in Acting Award. The award will be given as part of Variety’s annual 10 Directors to Watch and Creative Impact Awards brunch on January 4. Grammy-winning singer and actor Ariana Grande will present Erivo with the award.
“In less than a decade, Cynthia Erivo has moved from Tony Award-winning actress (for ‘The Color Purple’) to Oscar-nominated actress (for ‘Harriet’) and now finds herself at the heart of the 2024 awards season. Her role as Elphaba in ‘Wicked’ is already racking up major awards,” said Variety’s Executive Vice President of Content Steven Gaydos. “Erivo has taken on an iconic role and powerfully transformed it into a creative statement that is resonating with audiences and critics all over the world.”
The award-winning actor and producer will be recognized for her performances in “Harriet,” “Drift,” “Bad Times at the El Royale” and her most recent film “Wicked.” Released on Nov. 22, “Wicked” has already earned over $360 million in box office revenue, making it the highest-grossing movie of all time based on a Broadway musical. The film originally premiered at the State Theater in Sydney, Australia, on Nov. 3 and has already won awards at Heartland Film Festival, Manaki Brothers Film Festival, and the Celebration of Black Cinema and Television.
The Palm Springs International Film Festival runs Jan. 2 to 13, 2025. Passes and tickets are currently on sale. For additional information visit www.psfilmfest.org.