“Stop hiding” - Cynthia Erivo delivers powerful speech at Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards

Cynthia Erivo accepted her honors at the Essence Black Women in Hollywood awards on February 27, held at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles. Erivo shined in a black tulle dress from Maison Margiela's Fall 2022 collection, inspired by her latest film Wicked. She completed her look with Tabi shoes. As she accepted her award, Erivo had a few words of encouragement for Black women that made the audience,

"I know that some of us in this room are still waiting for permission to be, to own every faced of what makes us, us. Let me be the one to say, 'Stop hiding.' The thing i have learned in this wonderful moment in my life is that if you do it your way, no one can take it from you."

She then added,

"When you walk into a room and people stare, my darling, you have an audience now. Give them what they came for."

As per it's website, The ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood awards honors "pioneering and immensely talented Black women in Hollywood." Other notable personalities including, Zoe Kravitz, Laverne Cox, Issa Rae, Megan Good, Tia Mowry, Storm Reid, were in attendance.

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Cynthia Erivo calls herself a "bald-headed Black Brit" at Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards

While accepting her awards and encouraging other black women to "stop hiding", Cynthia Erivo recalled her own story and acknowledged her flaws, noting,

"It's not easy to believe that any dream you have is possible, but if you happen to be sat listening to a bald-headed Black Brit, born in South London to a single mom."

The actress grew up with a single mother, and a younger sister in South London. Her mother was born in Nigeria. Her parents separated when she was young, and by 16, her father had disowned her and her sister, as per an interview published by Harper's Bazaar in 2021.

Cynthia Erivo has gained worldwide recognition for her role as Elphaba in Wicked, which bagged 10 Academy Award nominations in 2025. The actress rose to fame after making her West End debut in the stage musical The Umbrellas of Cherbourg in 2011.

Erivo is the second Black woman to play Elphaba in Wicked after Alexia Khadime who starred in the West End Production from 2008-2010 and returned to the role in 2023.

While speaking to Variety in 2024, Cynthia Erivo said the movie is a "bit of love letter to everyone who feels different, who feels out of place, to all of the Black women who have walked into rooms and felt like they haven't been welcomed."