Cynthia Erivo Scores Two Oscar Nominations

The wait is finally over as the 2020 Oscars nominations have just been released.

Cynthia Erivohas landed an impressive two nominations and is the only person of color to receive a nomination for acting at this year's Oscars. The first nomination, in the category of "Best Lead Actress", is for her stellar performance in the Harriet Tubman biopic Harriet with the second nomination, in the category of "Best Original Song", for "Stand Up"—the soundtrack to Harriet.

Erivo's Oscar nominations come not long after she cancelled her scheduled performance at this year's British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards following the controversial all-White nominations list.

While on the issue of a glaring lack of diversity at prominent awards shows, the actress may now become the second Black actress to win an Oscar for a lead role since Halle Berry's historic 2001 win and the 11th Black actress to be nominated in the same category in the Oscars' entire 92-year history, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Additionally, Erivo now moves one step closer to becoming the youngest individual to receive the coveted Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony (EGOT). Should Erivo bring home the Oscar, she would also become the first to do it within just four years—yet another historic moment.

Speaking at the 2020 Critics Choice Award, the actress described what winning an Oscar would mean to her saying, "I don't even know if I have the words. It would mean the world. It really would." She went on to add that, "It's insane and weird and crazy, and also to be even thought of in that way. I like the idea of being a 'breakout' at this point in my career because it means that I can really keep going."

The glitzy Oscars' ceremony will broadcast live from Hollywood's Dolby Theatre on February 9th. You can read the full Oscars nominations list here.