“Harriet” Star Cynthia Erivo Says Oscars Will Be “Bittersweet” As The Sole Black Actor To Be Nominated This Year

“Harriet” star Cynthia Erivo says the upcoming Academy Awards will be a “bittersweet” one.

Erivo is the only actor of color who has been nominated for an Oscar this year, and the actress says it’s time for a change. “I want it to serve as an example of why we need to look at how we judge these films, and I want to make sure it doesn’t look like this every single time,” the actress said during an appearance on the BBC Breakfast show. “There are people who also deserve to be a part of this, and we’ve just got to figure out how that happens. Hopefully, this year will be a turning point for everyone because we are talking about it out loud, and hopefully, now we can actually make some changes.”

The British actor portrayed American hero Harriet Tubman in the film and was nominated for two categories: Best Actress and Best Original Song for “Stand Up,” which she co-wrote and performed in the film. The actress-singer is set to perform the song this Sunday. Erivo mentioned earlier this month that she was also asked to perform at the British Academy Film Awards despite not being nominated. But, Erivo says she turned down the offer, as the awards showed lacked a “proper presentation.”

Erivo isn’t the only actor calling the film and TV industry out for its lack of diversity and exclusion, “Joker” star Joaquin Phoenix said organizations including BAFTA, the Academy, and more send “a very clear message to people of color that you’re not welcome here.” “I think we truly have to do the hard work to understand systemic racism. I think that it is the obligation of the people that have created, perpetuated, and benefit from a system of oppression to dismantle it, so that’s on us,” said Phoenix during his BAFTA speech.

Today, Erivo was asked if she believes things will change regarding the voting process for the Oscars and BAFTAs, to which she responded, “I hope so because we can’t keep doing this and noticing it and doing nothing, so maybe now we start doing something about it.” While Erivo isn’t excited about being the only Black actor to be Oscar-nominated this year, she says she still feels this moment is a “dream come true in real-time.”