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Lupita Nyong'o            

Academy Award-Winning Actress; Known for "12 Years a Slave," "Black Panther" & "Us"

Lupita Nyong’o is an acclaimed actress, producer, and author known for her dynamic performances and powerful presence on and off the screen. Born in Mexico City and raised in Kenya, Nyong’o developed a passion for acting at an early age. She earned a degree in film and theater studies from Hampshire College and later attended the Yale School of Drama, where she graduated with a Master of Fine Arts in Acting in 2012. Nyong’o gained international recognition for her breakout role as Patsey in Steve McQueen’s "12 Years a Slave", a performance that earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, making her the first Kenyan and Mexican actress to win an Oscar. This achievement launched her into stardom and established her as one of the most talented and influential actresses of her generation.

Since her debut, Nyong’o has continued to captivate audiences with her versatile performances across various genres. She starred as Maz Kanata in the "Star Wars" sequel trilogy, voiced Raksha in Disney’s live-action adaptation of "The Jungle Book", and portrayed Nakia in Marvel's blockbuster film "Black Panther", a role she reprised in "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever". She also showcased her range as an actress in Jordan Peele's horror thriller "Us", where she took on the dual roles of Adelaide Wilson and her terrifying doppelgänger, earning critical acclaim for her chilling performance.

Nyong’o continues to expand her impressive portfolio with several upcoming projects. She starred in the thriller "A Quiet Place: Day One", a prequel to the "A Quiet Place" franchise, which explores the origins of the terrifying creatures that hunt by sound. Nyong’o is also set to appear in the action-adventure film "The Killer", directed by John Woo. Additionally, Nyong’o is developing and set to star in the limited series adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel "Americanah," which explores themes of identity, race, and love. These projects are a testament to her commitment to diverse storytelling and her continuous evolution as an artist.

Beyond her acting career, Nyong’o is a passionate advocate for social justice, diversity, and representation in the entertainment industry. She is a vocal supporter of the Time’s Up movement, which seeks to end harassment and discrimination against women in the workplace, and uses her platform to speak out against colorism and promote self-love, especially for people of African descent. In 2019, she published a children’s book titled "Sulwe", which explores themes of self-acceptance and celebrates the beauty of dark skin. The book became a bestseller and was praised for its empowering message and beautiful illustrations.

Nyong’o has been recognized as one of the most influential people in the world by TIME magazine and has appeared on numerous best-dressed lists for her distinctive style and fashion-forward choices. Her unique blend of talent, intelligence, and grace has made her a global icon and a role model for aspiring artists and young people worldwide. As she continues to challenge herself with diverse roles and advocate for meaningful change, Nyong’o remains an inspiring force in both the entertainment industry and the broader cultural landscape.

Books


9781534425378
Sulwe
2019

News


History: 'Us' Had The Biggest Opening Weekend For A Film Headlined By A Black Woman
Us, Jordan Peele's follow-up to Get Out, has been the subject of substantial critical and commercial acclaim. The film grossed a staggering $70 million in its opening weekend, making it the second-biggest opening of the year behind Captain Marvel, which opened with $153 million. In addition to that, Us also broke several box office records, including the best weekend for an original horror movie and the best weekend for an original R-rated film. But there's another record that the horror film broke, and no one has seemed to report on it until now. Thanks to one of our Shadow and Act community members who tipped us off in our comments, we investigated and learned that Us made history as the highest domestic opening weekend gross for a film headlined by a Black woman.
Lupita Nyong'o Explains How She Came Up With Her Us Super ...
Lupita Nyong'o went above and beyond to add scare-factors to her evil character in the new horror movie Us. In the film, written and directed by Jordan Peele ...
This Is Lupita Nyong'o. Hollywood, Please Keep Up. - The New York ...
AUSTIN, Tex. — When she was around 11, Lupita Nyong'o's parents brought home a cassette tape that changed her life. It was of the song “Regulate” by the ...
Why Lupita Nyong'o's 'Us' Voice Sounds So Creepy - The New York ...
Played by Lupita Nyong'o in a dual performance (she is also Adelaide, Red's non -villainous doppelgänger), Red becomes the movie's most unsettling enigma ...
Megyn Kelly, Lupita Nyong’o, Julianne Moore Among Honorees at Variety’s NY Power of Women
Variety has selected Lupita Nyong’o, Julianne Moore, Vera Wang, Misty Copeland and Megyn Kelly as the Lifetime Impact Honorees for its 2016 Power of Women: New York event, which celebrates the philanthropic efforts of industry leaders.
Lupita Nyong’o and Trevor Noah on Hollywood Diversity
Award winning actress Lupita Nyong’o and The Daily Show host, Trevor Noah, joined Philip Galanes for a meal and conversation in New York Times column Table for Three. The two celebrities—both from African nations, both 32 years old, and both having accomplished great achievements in the entertainment industry—shed light on #OscarsSoWhite and the challenges of diversity.
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Lupita Nyong'o Becomes Global Ambassador For Elephants
Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o has returned to her native Kenya and announced that she will advocate globally for elephants with international conservation organization WildAid, as well as promote women’s issues, acting and the arts in Kenya.
10 Actors to Watch: Lupita Nyong'o of '12 Years a Slave' | Variety
The idea of acting has appealed to Lupita Nyong'o since before she can remember. Born in Mexico to Kenyan parents living in self-imposed political exile,  ...
12 Years a Slave Star Lupita Nyong'o's Stunning Red Carpet Style ...
Meet your new style crush: Lupita Nyong'o. The 12 Years A Slave star quickly skipped the awkward...
Lupita Nyong'o QA: Actress Plays Patsey in '12 Years a Slave ...
In director Steve McQueenrsquo;s 12 Years A Slave, Lupita Nyong'o plays the tortured yet miraculously whimsical slave Patsey. She is the object of the.
Lupita Nyong'o: 5 Things to Know About the 12 Years a Slave Star ...
The newcomer is gathering rave reviews – and Oscar buzz.
Lupita Nyong'o, the level-headed breakout star of '12 Years a Slave ...
Lupita Nyong'o, the breakout star of '12 Years a Slave,' talks about getting the specifics of Steve McQueen's film just right.
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