Cynthia Erivo Says She Turns Down Roles That Don't Feel Right — And Her Instincts Are Undefeated

Cynthia Erivo has a simple rule for picking projects, and it’s not about the size of the paycheck. At a Screen Talk during the BFI London Film Festival on Oct. 12, the star said she relies on what she calls an internal metronome to tell her when a role is right for her. When it’s not? She passes.

The results speak for themselves. Her film“Prima Facie”earned a standing ovation at TIFF in September, and earlier this year she performed a one-woman West End production of“Dracula”in which she played 23 characters. Her explanation for taking on challenges like that:“I think I run towards a challenge.”

Up next, Erivo headlines a concert at the Hollywood Bowl on Oct. 15, and her future film slate includes“Children of Blood and Bone,”“Karoshi”and“Bad Fairies.”So the next time you’re staring down a big decision, maybe borrow her approach: if it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. What’s the last thing you turned down just because your gut said no?