Cynthia Erivo Is Going to Star in a Movie About Princess 'Gifted' to Queen Victoria

Cynthia Erivo is taking on a big new role.

The 33-year-old Harriet actress is set to star in and produce a film based on the life of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, a 19th century African princess who was “gifted” to Queen Victoria after she being orphaned and enslaved by a West African king, Deadline reported.

Here are more details: “Born Omoba Aina, an Egbado princess of the Yoruba people, she was ‘gifted’ to Queen Victoria in 1850, taken to England and renamed Sarah Forbes Bonetta. The Queen’s patronship was a thorny rose that put Sarah at the centre of British aristocracy but did not shield her from public scrutiny, personal suffering or the dangers of a capricious court that was fundamentally suspicious of her as a strong, educated Black woman.”

According to the report, the biopic is meant to be a celebration of Sarah Forbes Bonetta as a “strategic, determined heroine who found a way to embrace her Black-ness, her African-ness and to ultimately find love, forging a path for herself that honoured both her heritage and her upbringing.”

“I am excited to embark on this journey. It has taken a long time to get to a point where we can even begin to realize this dream. As a Nigerian British woman, to get the opportunity to tell the story of another Nigerian British woman who until now has been erased from the history books, is an honor. Miss Sarah Forbes Bonetta, Omoba Aina, is truly a passion of mine and I’m so pleased to have been able to find partners in the incredible women, Leah Clarke and Rienkje Attoh, to tell the story and finally give her a voice. I cannot wait to dive into her story. She is indeed the forgotten princess, forgotten no more,” Cynthia said in a statement.

She also stars in this highly anticipated movie, which just debuted a trailer!