Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o has opened up about the surprising — and often disappointing — offers she received after her breakout role in 12 Years a Slave, revealing that many scripts continued to confine her to slave narratives despite her historic Academy Award win.
In a recent interview with Angélique Kidjo on CNN, the Black Panther star reflected on how her 2014 Oscar win shaped her early Hollywood trajectory.
“What’s interesting is that after I won the Academy Award, you’d think, like, I’m going to get the lead roles here and there,” Nyong’o shared. “Instead, it was, ‘Oh, Lupita, we’d like you to play another movie where you’re a slave, but this time you’re on a slave ship.’ Those were the kinds of offers I was getting.”
Navigating Hollywood Stereotypes
Nyong’o, 42, said she faced immense pressure following her award-winning debut in Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave. The actress, who portrayed Patsey in the historical drama, said the period immediately following her Oscar win was both “exciting and tender,” but also filled with challenges.
“There is an expectation for you and your career,” she explained. “There were think pieces about, ‘Is this the beginning and end of this dark-skinned African woman’s career?’ I had to deafen myself to all those pontificators because at the end of the day, I’m not a theory. I’m an actual person.”
Determined not to “perpetuate stereotypes,” Nyong’o said she’s been intentional about the roles she chooses.
“I like to be a joyful warrior for changing the paradigms of what it means to be African,” she said. “And if that means I work one less job a year to ensure that I am not perpetuating the stereotypes that are expected of people from my continent, then let me do that.”
Building a Career Beyond Expectations
After 12 Years a Slave, the Yale School of Drama graduate diversified her portfolio with major motion-capture and voice roles in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and The Jungle Book. She later delivered a gripping lead performance in Jordan Peele’s 2019 horror film Us, which cemented her status as a dynamic and versatile leading lady.
Nyong’o has since starred in blockbuster hits like Black Panther and A Quiet Place: Day One, and most recently appeared in the animated success The Wild Robot.
She also returned to the stage in 2024 for Twelfth Night at New York’s Public Theater and is currently preparing for her next major role in Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey, set to hit theaters on July 17, 2026.
A Legacy of Empowerment
Lupita Nyong’o continues to be celebrated not only for her acting talent but for her advocacy for authentic representation in Hollywood. Her commitment to choosing empowering and meaningful roles serves as a powerful statement for future generations of African and international actors alike.
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