Top 10 Coolest Things About Lupita Nyong’o

Lupita Nyong’o has built a career that swings effortlessly between prestige dramas, blockbuster franchises, inventive horror, and meaningful TV work. She’s collaborated with visionary directors, taken on technically demanding performances, and helped bring globally resonant stories to huge audiences. Here are ten stand-out highlights from her screen and stage journey—starting with the projects that made her a household name.

’12 Years a Slave’ (2013) – a history-making film debut

Nyong’o’s feature debut as Patsey earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, a rare feat for a first film role. She worked under director Steve McQueen and delivered a performance grounded in extensive historical research and careful collaboration with the cast. The role demanded intense emotional range and meticulous period detail. Her win also marked a milestone for Kenyan and Mexican representation at the Oscars.

‘Black Panther’ (2018) – redefining the action spy in the MCU

As Nakia, a Wakandan War Dog, Nyong’o brought a grounded, espionage-driven skill set to a superhero epic. She trained extensively in combat and stunt work to portray a strategist who operates beyond the palace walls. The film’s global success amplified conversations around African futurism, costumes, and language, and her character became a linchpin of Wakanda’s outreach. Her scenes emphasized stealth, diplomacy, and hand-to-hand precision rather than superpowers.

‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ (2022) – a return with depth and world-building

Nyong’o’s Nakia returns with a storyline that bridges grief, diplomacy, and covert operations abroad. She expanded the role’s cultural texture with dialogue delivered in Haitian Creole, reflecting the character’s life beyond Wakanda. The production required specialized underwater training for several sequences, adding a new physical dimension to her performance. Her arc helps connect Wakanda’s future to relationships forged outside its borders.

‘Us’ (2019) – a chilling double performance

Working with Jordan Peele, Nyong’o played both Adelaide Wilson and her shadow doppelgänger, Red, crafting distinct movement, voice, and psychology for each. The dual role demanded precise physical vocabulary so audiences could read two fully formed characters facing off. Her performance drew widespread critics’ prizes and became a reference point for modern horror acting. The film’s commercial success cemented her range beyond franchise work.

‘Star Wars’ (2015–2019) – performance-capture world-building as Maz Kanata

Nyong’o portrayed Maz Kanata across the sequel trilogy using performance capture, translating facial nuance and voice into a fully digital character. Working closely with effects teams, she helped shape Maz’s expressive eyes and lived-in mannerisms. The role added a wise, roguish figure to the saga’s tapestry without relying on lightsabers or the Force. She also reprised the character’s voice in ancillary ‘Star Wars’ content.

‘Queen of Katwe’ (2016) – bringing a real family’s story to the screen

Directed by Mira Nair, the film follows Ugandan chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi, with Nyong’o playing her mother, Harriet. She balanced resilience and vulnerability, portraying a parent’s practical choices amid financial and social pressures. The production filmed on location, foregrounding everyday Kampala and Katwe life. Nyong’o’s performance anchors the sports-drama arc with a family’s emotional stakes.

‘The Jungle Book’ (2016) – voice performance with heart

Nyong’o voiced Raksha, the wolf who adopts Mowgli, channeling protective warmth and moral clarity. The hybrid live-action/CG approach required vocal choices that could carry through photoreal animation. Working with director Jon Favreau, she recorded lines to match nuanced animal facial animation and breath work. Her performance helped ground a high-tech spectacle in intimate family dynamics.

‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ (2024) – expanding a hit thriller’s universe

Set at the start of the invasion, this chapter shifts the franchise to a sprawling urban setting and focuses on ordinary people coping with sudden catastrophe. Nyong’o’s role emphasizes connection and survival choices when silence becomes a matter of life and death. The production leans on practical tension, sound design discipline, and close-up performance. Her work adds character-driven poignancy to a world known for minimal dialogue.

‘Shuga’ (2009) – socially engaged TV that launched visibility

Before global fame, Nyong’o starred in ‘Shuga’, a Kenyan drama created with health organizations to address relationships and HIV awareness. She played Ayira, a character at the center of conversations about choices and consequences. The series combined entertainment with public-health education and outreach campaigns. Its success gave her early international visibility and on-set experience across a multi-episode arc.

‘Serengeti’ (2019) – narrative documentary narration

Nyong’o narrated this nature series, guiding viewers through interwoven animal family stories on the savanna. The narration approach favors character-driven arcs and cinematic pacing, requiring precise tone and timing. Her voiceover helps unify complex wildlife behavior into accessible storytelling. It showcases a different craft—anchoring visuals with clear, empathetic narration.

Have another favorite Lupita moment or role I missed? Share your thoughts in the comments!