This is what you don’t know about the Oscar Award Winner Lupita Nyong’o. She has featured in many films and plays not only 12 Years As A Slave. A darling of the red carpet. She has also written a children’s book which has become New York Times Best Seller.
The Oscar award winner Lupita Nyongo is famous for her role in 12 Years As a Slave. She is a Kenyan-Mexican who has also won other awards in her professional acting career. Her hard work and determination have certainly paid her off. She is regarded as one of the best actors in the world.
Lupita’s Early Life
Lupita Nyong’o was born in 1st March in Mexico City. Her parents are Dorothy Ogada Buyu and a Kenyan Politician Professor Anyang Nyong’o. Professor Anyang Nyong’o is currently the Governor of Kisumu County.
Lupita is both a Kenyan and a Mexican Citizen. She can speak English, Kiswahili and Luo fluently. Her parents sent her to Mexico for 6 months where she learnt to speak Spanish fluently. During these six months, she lived in Taxco, Guerrero. She took her classes at Universidad Nacional Auto`noma de Mexico learning centre for foreigners.
Her parents bought her back to Kenya when she was one year old. Her father had gotten a job at the University of Nairobi. She was consequently raised in Nairobi where she attended Rusinga International School. This is where she began acting.
At 14 years of age, Lupita made her first professional debut as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. The play was staged by Phoenix Players in Nairobi. While a member of the Phoenix Players, she acted in The Razzle and There Goes The Bride.
Lupita attended St. Mary School in Nairobi where she graduated with a diploma in 2001. She later went to the United States for her college at Hampshire College. This is where she graduated with a degree in film and theatre studies. For her Masters, she did a Masters in Fine Art at Yale University.
Lupita’s Career
Lupita was inspired to take up acting as a career by Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey. This was in their performances in The Colour Purple.
She has acted in several films and plays including Shuga. This was the MTV Base television drama about HIV/AIDs that aired in Kenya. She also directed Wahu’s music video ‘The Little Things You Do’. It was nominated for the Best Video Awards at the MTV Africa Music Awards 2009.
Her breakthrough role came in 2013. She was cast in 12 Years As A Slave for which she won an Academy Award for the Best Supporting Role. She has also featured in other films such as Jungle Book(2016), Queen of Katwe(2016), Star Wars(2017), Black Panther(2018) and others. Most of the roles she has played, she has won many awards.
Lupita, The Fashion Icon
Lupita is very famous for her fashion. She is a darling of the red carpet due to her lovely dresses. She is always elegantly dressed, showing off her beautiful dark skin.
Through her beautiful dresses, she shows off her beautiful personality that shines through her smiles. She has been on several magazines such as Vogue, Marie Claire, People, Elle and many others. She is truly a woman to celebrate.
Lupita’s Personal Life
Other than being a professional actor, Lupita has written a children’s book. The book has become New York Times Best Seller. The book is titled ‘Sulwe.’ Sulwe is Luo meaning a star.
She is also the Global Elephant Ambassador chosen by Wild Aid. In this role, she advocates for the conservation of Elephants.
She also campaigns for the rights of women. Lupita is very involved in the organisation, Mother Health International. It provides relief to women and children in Uganda.
Truly, Lupita Nyong’o is a woman who we can look up to. Her achievements are to be admired as they do make a difference in the world. She is a woman to reckon with.
