nyong'o is top of line. lucky us.
11
All I can do is appreciate her incredible talent, persona and the discernment she has applied to her work and her life. What a refreshing addition to the pantheon of great actors who are super stars with so many deminsion.
6
Her younger brother, Junior (Peter) Nyong'o, is currently performing the title role in Hamlet, at Orlando Shakes.
He is equally talented, and I expect everyone will be seeing a lot more of him in the future.
9
She's wonderful, one of my favorite actors. But reading the over-the-top raves about her in the Comments section, I wonder yet again why we ascribe such god- and goddess-like attributes to actors we've never met, and yet all the other people in our lives, even those who help us, who keep us sane and safe, are just ... the people in our lives.
33
@Bob G.
True that. I ascribe those raves to my husband, who is a quiet hero every day.
9
Lupita is talented and gorgeous!!!
4
Lupita Nyong'o is so smart and talented. I'm curious why the article didn't state what she has an advanced degree in. Is it because she's so beautiful that readers shouldn't be interested in her academic achievements? Just wondering.
6
@Anita Her avanced degree is in acting. She went to Yale's theater school; she doesn't have a academic degree from any Ivy League school.
1
@Anita I believe her advanced degree is from the Yale School of Drama
3
Having seen Ms. Nyong'o in her breakout performance in "Twelve Years a Slave" as well as on a recent late tv talk show, we can only augur great things for this beautiful and talented actress. What a breath of fresh air she is! The very personification of intelligence and humility coupled with a very vibrant personality.
5
She is a working, famous actress. Fine. So can someone explain the headline to this article? Is there something i missed? Or is the headline just empty bravado, an unneccessary bit of virtue signalling and condescension? Thanks NYT, but it seems as if Hollywood is doing just fine here without your admonition.
15
@dave I find most everyone who watches out for virtue signaling to be condescending virtue signalers.
And there we are, stuck in a pathetic and ever unhelpful loop.
7
I enjoy Lupita Nyong'o's work very much but must admit I was brought up short by the cruel revelation that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vocal disability was even mentioned as inspiration for her role in "Us."
Was it really necessary to share this bit of mean-spiritedness?
RFK, Jr. is an American hero who has dedicated his life to serving children's health and fighting against corporations who poison people with their products (Monsanto/glyphosate).
Now, I cannot watch this film, knowing Nyong'o is mocking Kennedy.
1
@lechrist - Nyong’o said that she used Kennedy as a model for her speech. Johnny Depp used Keith Richards as his model for Jack Sparrow. It’s what actors do, it’s not mockery.
43
@Keith Respectfully. Keith Richards ruined his body with massive amounts of drug and alcohol consumption while RFK. Jr. has a disability. Not at all the same thing.
1
@lechrist
"RFK, Jr. is an American hero"
Debatable.
6
Lupita Nyong'o is the MOST elegant "clotheshorse" in the fashion world today. She reminds me of the model Iman. Every year my daughters and I wait to see what Lupita is wearing to the GG awards and to the Oscars - watching this year's Oscars, I kept saying, "But where is she? Did I miss her? What is she wearing?" It turned out she had another commitment and missed the "red carpet." Her beauty, her intelligence, her amazing abilities as an actress - and the way she dresses! - place her heads above the rest of "Hollywood." Thank you, Reggie Ugwu, for this profile of her.
7
I saw the her on Late Night with Stephen Colbert and she was wearing yellow contacts. I found her to be disingenuous. Even Colbert's show, which I like, is deteriorating into a "self-promotional vehicle for disingenuous people". Hmm...sounds like the title of a book, huh?
8
There is something really special about her, apart from her obvious, stunning beauty. She just has this quiet grace, serenity, dignity.
12
@Marialk
Perhaps. Yes, she is beautiful. Serene? Who knows. I repeat; for me, she acts like she is someone else.
2
@Easy Goer I think that's what actors do!
6
I wish Lupita Nyong'o would speak in her own accent in public, even if it is necessary to use American for work. After all, Hugh Laurie does.
6
@S North: And what might that ".....own accent..." be?
9
Americanah is a wonderful book and I can't wait to see her in the series!
7
Her magnificence shines
through what ever color or
nationality she happens to be.
The moment she appeared on
screen for the first time there
was magic. Looking forward to
her future projects. We need her
intelligence and integrity.
9
Lupita is everything over-exposed celebrities like the Kardashians are not and could never be: well educated, multi-lingual, smart, confident, truly talented, with great taste, and beautiful---what more could you ask for?
63
I know this is about Lupita and Hollywood, but let's not forget she rocked Broadway in 2016 in Danai Gurira's (her Black Panther co- star) powerful drama "Eclipsed". Lupita was electrifying and received a Tony award nomination for her awesome performance. I was fortunate to bring teenaged girls from NYC shelters to the play as guests of the producers, and Lupita and the rest of that incredible cast came out after the curtain and were so warm and welcoming to the teens. It was an unforgettable experience for all of us seeing her onstage.
57
@arodriguez yes, I wondered why they did not include her theatrical resume. She’s not a 22 yr old ingenue.
8
Here's hoping Ms. Nyongo doesn't become too comfortable in the lucrative POP endeavors being offered to her by Jordan Peele and the Marvel comics industry. Can she become the next Viola Davis and end up with the trifecta of an Oscar an Emmy and a Tony award? Only time will tell.
7
New Yorkers do recognize celebrities. We just don't care or are not impressed. Michelle Obama would impress me, actors not so much.
17
If they bring a significant change to our conception of reality and action, then they truly should be recognized and applauded. If they entertain but the next day we are the same, no. Michelle Obama, much more than her husband, enriched my awareness and such does this lady.
Homer was an entertainer and an educator and 3000 and more years later we still come to new awarenesses. Such as a strong sense of betrayal accompanying his classic two tales of PTSDisorder Achilles and Ullyses. And of PTSStrength and PTSInjury. Actors and Poet/Playright but enchanting and for eons enriching.
How many politicians can say that? More than we read in our newspapers which tend to write reality as a digest.
Are there no movies for you who have permanently changed your view of the possible? For me, several in Ingmar Bergman and Kurosawa films led me to expand not just my vocabulary of thoughts and feelings but my desirable roles to learn and master. Roles are too little taught in most education. Without mastery, all the concepts in vocabulary lose most of their power and influence.
Anyway, how about imagining a review that enriches you. You have a start, as you mentioned, with a policeman. Imagine how a truly great actor or actress would play such a role that you would never be the same but yet better.
14
NYT’s-
Please consider stopping these “what an incredible renaissance type person” reviews on actors and actresses.
Nothing against them- their work is important. But how’s about an interview with a local
police officer? A teacher? A single mom? An ER doctor?
Lots of people make this world turn slightly towards the good, every day.
Hollywood gets enough attention.
Lend your voice an platform to the tiny.
33
@Samuel You must not read the Times very thoroughly if you think the paper only covers actors and celebrities.
18
Lupita has great charisma,she reminds me of Angélique Kidjo or Grace Jones.What a drive.
5
Puffery with a side of guilt.
8
Most beautiful woman and refreshing light ever. Someone said incandescent. Could not agree more.
21
She is always such a joy to watch on screen, and I can't wait to see this new movie!!
9
Incandescent talent in everything she does. Would love to see more of her! Thank you for this interview.
21
Why is she being described as a "Kenyan-Mexican". Her parents just lived there for awhile. There's no ethnic group called "Kenyan-Mexican". The labels are getting silly.
25
@Ed Her family is from Kenya. She was born in Mexico City and as you say, her parents "lived there for awhile"...does there have to be a substantial number of people you have heard of who describe themselves this way for it to be a valid description of a part of her background?
39
@Ed
Because she was born in Mexico.....
15
@bkgalShe's hardly Mexican.
3
I will read anything about Lupita! Not only is she incredibly lovely, intelligent, talented, and dignified, but she completed the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme at St. Mary’s School in Nairobi, Kenya; the IB is where I work, and all of us here are so extremely proud of all of her accomplishments.
To read her statements such as “It’s really not exceptional to be black, or to be African, and I think that’s a powerful statement in and of itself; we can be seen and perceived as part and parcel of the global experience, because that is the truth” is simply thrilling, as these words reflect the IB's mission statement to ". . . develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect". Keep it up, Lupita; we are so proud of you!
71
As a black American I was at first angry about foreigners playing slaves in "12 Years A Slave." I then realized that American blacks have been playing Africans for decades - from Forrest Whitaker as Idi Amin in "The Last King of Scotland," all the way back to the extras in the old Tarzan movies of the '50's. Lupita is indeed one of ours - and so is her native accent. I hope she uses it more.
36
@mr isaac I remember Samuel Jackson's issue with Daniel Kaluuya's role in Get Out. As an African-American I've never understood the problem with having Africans play African-Americans. Perhaps it's tied to visiting Africa for the first time where I saw people who looked like me and spoke to me in different dialects assuming that I was African. Or perhaps it's the fact that wherever I travel around the world, and often in the U.S., I'm often asked where I'm from, i.e., in which African country was I born... even by African-Americans. Whatever the reason I celebrate the broadening that is allowing more Africans and African-Americans to have starring roles that celebrate our resiliency and the seeing in a new way that it doesn't matter whether Africans portray us or we portray them. What matters is that our stories are getting told.
45
@mr isaac & Janie
Adding to your statements, many European actors have portrayed Americans and non-Americans in major roles in Hollywood movies over the past century.
2
@Janie
To be fair to Mr. Jackson, his concern was with British actors, not African actors. (If you think there's no difference, how many African actors can you name who are working in Hollywood?) The essence of his concern was that Hollywood is more comfortable casting British actors as black Americans because they are removed from the actual experience of being raised in the US as descendants of slaves, which is its own unique thing.
Jackson wasn't suggesting that these actors aren't capable of playing these roles, as much as highlighting how the tendency allows white Americans to cast black people without having to engage the actual black Americans who have been traditionally denied those opportunities. He was basically suggesting people think about why British actors feel like safer choices to the white people who run the entertainment industry.
11
It was love at first sight when I saw Lupita. She is indeed the perfect package. Pure class. I also love her soothing voice and her wonderful , innate great sense of personal style.
Whoever she is with is a very lucky man.
15
A Renaissance woman with an exquisite sense of style.
41
Blacks in America are now flooding us, in all media, and all around us, with such a wave of talent, intelligence, and calm sanity, perfectly exemplified by those of Nyong'o and Peele that they simply make racial prejudice against blacks increasingly ridiculous. As a white native of Atlanta, the "Black Mecca," who grew up in the era of MLK, it's so great to see blacks in Atlanta and across America totally coming into their own. Trump and is pathetic white nationalists are the last gasps of an absurd fantasy, rather than a portent of our future. Despite the young Nazis of Charlottesville, racism is mostly a disease of the white old. Most younger whites have left it in the dust, since they've been surrounded all their lives by super smart, talented blacks--from brilliant hip-hop artists on, in all areas of our life, including the White House.
64
@Fred White I must disagree that racism is the disease of the old because there a lot of young white people that are still racist. I experienced personally.
16
@Fred White
Thanks, Fred, but here's the thing: we've been here all along. It's not that "blacks are coming into their own" but that whites are.
As Ms. Nyong'o said, there's nothing remarkable about being black. We're the same as you are. You're just beginning to finally figure that out. And good for you!
30
What an amazing gift you are to all of us. Thank you for sharing your journey, your wisdom, and your creations! It takes courage!
20
Talented and engaging, yes. But my daughter and I both thought that the orange contacts she wore on The Late Show were creepy and weird, not in a good way.
8
Of for heaven's sake she's being playful! It certainly looked a little weird but honestly, so what?
10
What a great role model! She also spoke about her experience with Vipassana meditation. For mellenials to do meditation other than being on social media, is a refreshing change. I hope more people can follow her lead and inspire people from all walks of life to meditate.
13
Nyong'o is the total package. She is educated, intelligent, a thinker, talented, and beautiful. She is the only person who can hold her back from continuing to have a fantastic career. In this dysfunctional world it is so refreshing to see someone like her who has done so much already who presents the prospect of doing so much more. I anticipate her future prospects eagerly. She is right, it is not exceptional to be of any race or nationality, but she is an exceptional person!
56
One wishes her well. However, I suspect in 5 years that celebrity will take it's toll on her and her career. She may be the woman of the hour but the producers and the public always move onto the "next thing". One can't get too attached to the attention or thinking that a new leading person has arrived in films, it rarely happens. The best thing that she could do is to stop doing big budget franchise films (obviously US and Little Monsters are not those) to focus on developing her acting by doing more indie films and theatre to develop her craft. Doing this will ensure that when the attention moves elsewhere, which it will, that she has the skills to make a living as an actress.
4
@GP,
I'm pretty sure she does not need career advice from you or any other random strangers.
70
@GP
Are you saying that this Oscar winner needs to hone her acting skill set, as if her success thus far is based on something other than being good at the craft? I think many of us feel she is doing great work already.
22
@GP - To quote Jordan Peele - who has personal experience working with her "The first time she did that scene was magic. I think we shot it like 10 times — just because we could — and it was always gold.” Given your you're sitting on your proverbial "career advice" couch I'd say leave well enough alone and sit back and enjoy the ride as we all watch her live her life and career in the manner she chooses. Which at the end of the day is her choice! Not yours, not mine, and certainly not ours, to make.
18
Lupita is an incredible talent! The joy and truth in her voice is refreshing. I am hopeful that her career path brings many revelations and opportunities for evolution and discovery. We are lucky to share her many gifts and professional adventures. A wonderful profile.
16
The press is revealing too much of the plot of “Us”! Please use the “spoiler alert” warning for those of us who want to approach the film fresh.
20
As should be understood by most at this point, rap and hip-hop don't matter anymore; haven't for a long time. They died the death of absorption into commercial inanity a generation ago, as most popular forms eventually do.
But Nyong'o's comment that “It’s really not exceptional to be black, or to be African, and I think that’s a powerful statement in and of itself,” is timely; she gets it. If and when Hollywood and the rest of the media world in the States gets it, we'll all be able to move on to the business of living and creating without spotlights being turned on the superficial, and actual content can rise again to supersede the inanities currently being celebrated in all mediums.
20
R&B/Hip Hop are the most popular genre of music in this country.
4
@Debby
I think your comment, if anything, supports James' point about absorption into commercial inanity.
But since when are R&B and hip-hop a single genre?
What a stunning photograph
Ms Nyong’o was on a recent Two Dope Queens episode
She is also a natural born comedian!
27
Monica Vitti and Catherine Deneuve have nothing on her... I'm just keepin' it real.
10
What about Lilian Gish, since we're going back in time?
3
@leclisse
Catherine Denueve is still stunning.
7
Truly enjoyed how this was written, so lovely. She's genuinely a force in the film industry and her words after winning an Oscar for 12 Years remain relevant, "No matter where you're from your dreams are valid."
18
And it was so wonderful that she acknowledged that her success had come on the back of someone else's (Patsey's) tragedy. She really is a gem!
3
She is a delight. Beautiful, talented, dignified, worldly.
This woman is a revelation.
I really look forward to seeing her portray Trevor Noah's Mom in
Born a Crime.
29
She’s beautiful and brave. Still remembering her story about Weinstein. That took guts.
42
No mention in the article of Queen of Katwe, which I saw without knowing who she was. I was fascinated and thought she was outstanding.
40
@Patrick Donovan, I think I have seen most or maybe all of Lupita's movies, and Queen of Katwe is my favorite. Her performance was indeed outstanding.
9
she is lovely and exceptional in every way. With apologies to 1woman below, I did not feel the beat of this story captured her energy and uniqueness fully.
10
Seeing Ms. Nyong’o’s luminous photo on made me stop everything and read. She is a marvel based on her fashion choices alone; then add her incredible talent and joyful spirit and you get the rarest of Hollywood gems. Have been and will always be a huge fan!
40
Her beauty and charm are undeniable, but it is her dignity and sharp intelligence that distinguish her in an industry rife with shallow attention seekers.
107
@JR
Don't forget that she is articulate.
23
I don't think there is any secret to her great appeal. She exudes joy, sincerity, and - most importantly - charisma.
In other words, she's a movie star, and deservedly so.
114
@sdcga161 a "Human Star"
4
@Steve
What does that mean
2
A captivating essay written with far more eloquence than one may expect in this section.
26