It was a mammoth day for thousands of brave runners on Sunday as London's 2026 Marathon kicked off across the English capital.
With a host of famous names among the 59,000 participants, including James Norton and Jack O'Connell, Wicked actress Cynthia Erivo was hoping to beat her previous 2022 time of 3 hours 35 minutes.
© Getty ImagesSpeaking to London Marathon officials on the finish line, Cynthia confirmed she had done just that, achieving a personal best of 3 hours 21 minutes and 40 seconds.
Alongside the thousands of supporters cheering her on, Cynthia also gave a rare shout-out to her mother and sister, who had gathered to support her and help spur her on to the finish line after a whopping 26 miles.
Cynthia Erivo's rare family admission
Sporting a giddy smile behind her aviator sunglasses, Cynthia reflected on the "amazing" atmosphere. "I don't know how many times I heard my name screamed around the course, it was wild and insane," she said.
After admitting there was a "rough" moment when she thought she might not make it, the Harriet actress found the strength to carry on with the help of a friend, as well as two special family members.
"It just feels really good to be on that course, and my mum's here, my sister was on that course. She always meets me at mile 21 and yells my name and screams and has a big old card, so it just feels like a homecoming."
Despite her huge success, there's no rest for the actress, who is currently playing 23 roles in Dracula on London's West End and is due back on stage at 7.30pm on Monday evening. "I should be fine… I might be a little slower than usual, though," she joked.
When asked why she runs, Cynthia replied: "I just get to centre, you know? I process all the things that are going on in my life and get to think about the things I want to think about. Zone out for a second, meditate for a second and just be me, yeah, no makeup, no nothing, no costume, just me."
Meet Cynthia Erivo's family
Born and raised in Stockwell, south London, Cynthia grew up with her younger sister, Stephanie. The two were raised by their mother, Edith, after her parents separated, and they became estranged from their father when Cynthia was 16.
© Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty ISpeaking on James Corden's This Life of Mine podcast, Cynthia reflected on her bond with her sister: "Stephanie is such a singular personality. I've never met anyone like her. I feel very lucky to have her as my sister.
"She is really intentional about everything she does – the food she eats, the way she treats her body, the words she says, the time she spends with people. There is an awareness that she has that not many human beings have."
