Cynthia Erivo Wows in Shocking Poker Face Performance

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Cynthia Erivo, a British actress, achieved even greater mainstream fame last year with her role as Elphaba in the movie version of “Wicked.” However, her recent performances in the Season 2 premiere of “Poker Face” could have catapulted her to new levels of popularity. Critics are praising Erivo for her portrayal of quadruplet sisters in this crime dramedy, and it’s easy to understand why. Known for their versatility in musical theater, these performers are often referred to as “triple threats” and adept at multitasking. Yet, even by those standards, Erivo demonstrated an extraordinary range in this episode, handling the story’s unexpected twists and turns effortlessly. Proceed with caution: This section contains spoilers for “Poker Face!

As a film enthusiast, I’ve been eagerly anticipating the return of “Poker Face” for more than two years, but my patience was rewarded with the airing of Season 2, Episode 1, titled “The Game Is a Foot”. The heroine, Charlie Cale, played by Natasha Lyonne, is still evading the clutches of mobsters and hitmen, eking out a living through temporary jobs across the nation. During her stint at an apple orchard, she strikes up a friendship with Delia (Erivo), who discloses a fascinating secret – she is one of four identical quadruplets! These sisters shared the lead role on a children’s show called “Kid Cop: Nights”, and their domineering mother, Norma, instigated rivalries among them while they were growing up.

Delia discovers her mother has passed away, and Charlie goes with her to the funeral. There, Delia encounters her sisters Bebe and Cece, while Erivo skillfully portrays each of them as unique personalities. Meanwhile, we glimpse events through the eyes of Amber, their fourth sister, who remained at home caring for their ailing mother. Amber finds out that they had a hidden fifth sister, Felicity, who lived with their distant father. Their mother bequeathed all her wealth to Felicity, infuriating Amber.

Performing five distinct roles would already require quite a balancing act, but things get even more intricate with the enigma at hand. Amber deceives Felicity’s death as a suicide and aims to claim her inheritance. This means Cynthia Erivo portrays a character masquerading as another, while also playing three of the characters she is attempting to deceive. It’s a conundrum that leaves viewers bewildered, let alone the actors themselves.

In her typical fashion, Erivo didn’t make things easy – she portrayed Felicity with a southern drawl that Amber found difficult to mimic. She skillfully wove dialogue between accents, adding intrigue to the storyline, and convincingly played the other sisters who were being deceived. As expected, Charlie’s ability to discern truths accurately sometimes hindered rather than helped the investigation, and in the end, a bit of violence was necessary to uncover the truth.

Guest Star’s Workload

In “Poker Face,” celebrity guest stars play a significant role in its storyline, but none have been asked to deliver as powerfully as Cynthia Erivo did. Critics praised her acting, highlighting how she managed to maintain the novelty and excitement throughout the 55-minute episode without giving away too much early on, ensuring that the audience remained engaged even as they began to understand the plot.

Recently, Erivo’s growing fame played a significant role in securing her well-deserved recognition for her exceptional acting skills. Those who have watched her in plays like Wicked or other productions are already aware that she’s not one of five identical quintuplets, and for those who might be unaware, a simple online search would reveal this fact. Erivo has been a shining star on the stage since 2011, and she has been part of mainstream films for over a decade now, featuring in movies such as Bad Times at the El Royale, Harriet, and the live-action Pinocchio. However, it’s her role in the hit musical Wicked that has made her a familiar name to many households. The series Poker Face not only leveraged this fame but also showcased Erivo’s versatility as an actress.

The premiere episode titled ‘The Game Is a Foot’ was the start of a three-episode arc for Season 2 of Poker Face. This season, which has received positive reviews, will release new episodes every Thursday on Peacock until July 10th. In addition, Cynthia Erivo is set to return to the big screen in Wicked: For Good, scheduled for a U.S. release on November 21st. Until then, you can stream Wicked on Peacock.

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2025-05-21 03:13