Lupita Nyong'o

Lupita Nyong’o (also credited as Lupita Amondi Nyong’o) is a Kenyan-Mexican screen artist born on March 1, 1983, in Mexico City. She first entered the film world behind the scenes as a production assistant before stepping in front of the camera with the short film East River. Soon after, she returned to Kenya to appear in the TV series Shuga, while also expanding her creative range by writing, producing, and directing the documentary In My Genes.

Nyong’o sharpened her craft with a master’s degree from the Yale School of Drama, then broke through internationally as Patsey in 12 Years a Slave—a performance that earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, marking a historic first for both Kenyan and Mexican actresses. She later made a celebrated Broadway debut in Eclipsed, receiving a Tony Award nomination.

Her filmography spans blockbusters and prestige projects, from motion-capture work as Maz Kanata in Star Wars: The Force Awakens to voice roles like Raksha in The Jungle Book. She joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Nakia in Black Panther and appears as herself in behind-the-scenes specials such as Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Beyond acting, Nyong’o is also an author; her children’s book Sulwe became a #1 New York Times bestseller. She has narrated nature and science programming and is recognized for advocacy on issues including women’s rights and animal welfare.