Close-up portrait of Cynthia Straus with brown hair, wearing a black turtleneck, against a gray background.

About Cynthia

Cynthia is a seasoned film and stage actor whose passion for performance began at just nine years old with Chicago’s esteemed children’s theatre troupe, Lilliput II. By age 12, she was already making a profound impact, delivering a tour de force portrayal of Holocaust survivor Raja Englanderova in I Never Saw Another Butterfly—a performance that moved survivors in the audience to tears. It was then that Cynthia realized the life-changing power of storytelling through acting.

Cynthia’s Theatre credits include standout roles such as Angel Eyes—a woman grappling with trauma—in Joyce Carol Oates’s I Stand Before You Naked, Emma in Harold Pinter’s Betrayal, and Eleonora Duse in Otho Eskin’s Duet, a compelling tribute to the legendary Italian stage actress and her rivalry with Sarah Bernhardt. Critics have hailed her as “a subtle, transformative performer” and praised her work as “first-rate acting that reminds us of the emotional power of theater.”

In film and television, Cynthia has worked with acclaimed directors like Joshua Michael Stern (Swing Vote), Andy Fleming (Hamlet 2), Robert Iscove (Love N’ Dancing), and Thom Eberhardt (Naked Fear). Her screen performances span genres, and she has shared the screen with respected actors including George Lopez, Amy Poehler, Steve Coogan, and Joe Mantegna.

She has also performed in V's (formerly known as Eve Ensler) The Vagina Monologues three times in support of the global VDAY campaign to end violence against women, reinforcing her commitment to socially impactful art.

Cynthia is a professionally trained, union-affiliated actor, having studied under world-renowned coaches such as Larry Moss, Patsy Rodenburg and Ernie Martin, as well as at The Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City. Whether on stage or screen, Cynthia brings depth, versatility, and authenticity to every role she inhabits.

Cynthia can be reached by contacting her representation

NSNY! Talent

Manager Gary Adams
(203) 696-0435
nsnytalent@gmail.com