Stockwell actress Cynthia Erivo wins Tony Award months after Broadway debut

A Stockwell actress who made her Broadway debut a year ago has won a coveted Tony Award after rave reviews.

Cynthia Erivo, who studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in west London, won best actress in a musical for her starring role in The Color Purple.

The musical is based on the novel of the same name by Alice Walker and tells the story of a young woman’s "journey to love and triumph in the American south".

Her performance as Celie Harris has won rave reviews, culminating in last night’s win at the ceremony in New York.

She studied at the University of East London and has appeared in programmes including Mr Selfridge as well as on the West End.