Jay Shetty - Cynthia Erivo

1) Cynthia Erivo discusses missing her home city of London and the differences between it and Los Angeles. While she loves the sunshine and the ability to hike and be surrounded by nature in LA, she also misses the seasons, biscuits, and particularly watching a football game in the UK. In regards to her Roman Catholic upbringing, she notes that it felt very restrictive and rules-based, but she still believes in God and focuses on being loving and kind to everyone around her, including her dogs. She believes that giving out something good will come back to you like a boomerang, and that is the most important part of her faith.

2) Cynthia talks about how small interactions with strangers can be meaningful because we never know how we will influence each other's day. She also discusses the equal parts of discipline and artistry that she gained from her experience at an all-boys school and the teachers who helped her think differently. Erivo explains that running has been a continuous journey for her, teaching her about discipline, stamina, and how to overcome moments of self-doubt. Despite the difficulty, she gains so much from it and learns to listen to her body to determine when it's good to take a break or push herself further.

3) Cynthia shares her perspective on the mental aspect of distance running and how it has taught her to take things step by step in life. She describes how running helps her with anxiety and offers an example of how she applied her approach to a daunting task like getting her closet in order. Erivo's view is to start with one small thing, and eventually, the rest will fall into place. She emphasizes the importance of not getting caught up in the end goal and instead, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. Erivo concludes by saying that people have asked her how she runs so much, to which she replies that no one is asking them to run, and they should simply start with one step.

4) Cynthia advises people to start small with their passion and strive to improve 1% each day. She gives an example using running, suggesting just putting on sneakers and going outside even if only getting to the door. Progress takes small increments, and it doesn't need to be hours, just start. Little Cynthia always believed in herself, trying new things and never missed an opportunity to explore. Cynthia's family and friends have always been there to support her. It's beautiful to hear that finding your tribe can help you along your journey, challenging you to be better and take risks.

5) Cynthia discusses her love for portraying characters and the process of getting into character. She shares how she looks at a character's walk, talk, and rhythm to understand their internal heartbeat and figure out their motivations. She uses the example of Holly Gibney in The Outsider, a character who found it hard to communicate but deeply craved connection. Erivo explains how she approaches every role with the intention of getting to know the character so well that she feels she's met them in real life. She then shares how the role of Holly Gibney allowed her to connect with people from different backgrounds and bring them together. Erivo's passion for her work and her attention to detail in character development is evident in this section.

6) Erivo shares her process for creating complex and believable characters. She emphasizes the importance of observing real people, taking note of how they move and carry themselves, and how they use things like clothing, makeup, and scents to express themselves. She also talks about the importance of empathizing with the character she is playing, and connecting with them as real people so that her portrayal is multi-dimensional and three-dimensional. Erivo credits her ability to observe and connect with people to her natural inclination as a people-watcher, which she has honed and developed through her education and professional experience as an actor. Her ultimate goal is to create characters that are so believable that viewers feel like they are real people, out in the world.

7) Cynthia discusses the challenge of letting go of the characters she portrays on screen, as they become a part of her, and how she has learned to shed them over time so as not to let the role take over her life. She explains that, as an actor, once you've played the role well, the character becomes a part of you, affecting everything from your voice, mannerisms, and posture to the way you think and express yourself.

8) Erivo discusses her experience with therapy and how it has helped her to find better ways to communicate with people and show up as her best self. She explains that therapy has enabled her to debrief with someone after an altercation and process her emotions in a healthier way. When asked about any self-limiting beliefs that she has held, Erivo acknowledges that she sometimes questions whether she is good enough for something, but has learned to trust that what is meant to be for her will come to her if she is doing the work and preparing for it. A key takeaway from her therapy sessions has been to ask herself if she is loving herself when she does something or consumes something, which helps her to make healthier choices.

9) Cynthia and Jay discuss the importance of creating a safe space to share ideas, even if they may seem outlandish. They emphasize the value of appreciating one another's ideas and not judging someone for their bad ideas, but rather for their great ones and their bravery in sharing them. Erivo shares her personal journey of listening to her intuition and being okay with going against what others expected of her, such as leaving university to pursue her passion in acting. She explains that her success is a result of as low and steady accumulation of trying new things and listening to herself.

10) Cynthia discusses how she followed her gut feeling and did what made her happy without worrying about the opinions of others. She recounts how she started practicing her passion for singing in a music room and putting on a cabaret with no pressure. Her role in The Color Purple on Broadway came because she knew she was meant to play Celie, listening to her intuition even though she did not know what would happen next. She encourages people to not look for the connection moving forward but to keep taking steps forward and follow their gut feelings. Cynthia also explains how being stubborn has helped her get things done but acknowledges the importance of accepting help when needed.