Cynthia Erivo says 'it was time for someone like Joaquin Phoenix' to attack 'systemic racism'

Joker actor said he was 'ashamed' of all-white nominees while accepting Bafta award

Cynthia Erivo has praised Joaquin Phoenix for his “brave” Baftas speech about institutional racism.

The actor told Variety that Phoenix’s words “meant that someone like him was listening and [is] seeing what is going on”.

Erivo continued: “It’s gotten to the point where he can pretend it’s not happening anymore – and to say it in a place at that time... he was really brave and it meant a lot to me, as a Brit, to hear him say it.”

She said that “it was time for someone like him to say it, because people like me – the black girls of the world, the black men of the world – are saying it consistently, but we’re not always being heard. Do maybe it might have taken that to change something.”

Alfre Woodard, who has honoured Erivo at the 11th annual Sistahs Soiree, added: “I’m glad he did it. I’m glad he said it. And just like he said, ‘We can’t look to the people of colour to do it. It’s about us.’

“He made a speech that was about him and to his folks. They probably don’t want to hear it; a few in the audience might want to hear it because they think ‘Not me,’ so they’re feeling self-righteous about it.”

Erivo has been nominated for two Oscars – Best Actress for Harriet and Best Original Song for “Stand Up”.

She can currently be seen in HBO series The Outsider, which is available to watch on NOW TV.