Lupita Nyong’o at the Critics Choice Awards 2014
Lupita Nyong’o has become quite a world sensation, and with good reason. Her performance in the film, ‘12 years a Slave’ as well as her great fashion sense, has led to her being one of the most talked about and photographed celebrities right now.
Here are 5 things you probably did not know about Lupita Nyong’o.
1. Her middle name is Amondi
Amondi is the Luo name for a girl born in the morning. The male version of the name is Omondi.
2. Her success didn’t happen overnight
In a world obsessed with getting to the top in a heartbeat, the success stories don’t focus much attention on the long road that leads to success. Lupita started her film career from the bottom like a lot of filmmakers the world over. She has worked as a set runner and production coordinator on films like ‘The Constant Gardner’ before moving on to bigger roles. She also has both her undergrad and masters degrees in Film.
3. She is an award winning Film Director
Most of us know her as an actress having been introduced to Africa through her role in ‘Shuga’ and to the rest of the world through her role in ’12 Years a Slave’. She directed a documentary, ‘In My Genes’ on the treatment of albinos in Kenya that went on to garner some attention both locally and internationally and won first prize at the 2008 Five College Film Festival.
Below is the ‘In My Genes’ trailer.
4. She directed Wahu’s music video for her hit single ‘The Little Things You Do’ featuring Bobi Wine
The music video was well received and went on to be nominated for a Best Video Award at the 2009 MTV Africa Music Video Awards.
Below is the music video
5. She has won 29 awards so far for her role in ’12 Years a Salve’ and counting
The press has been focused on the major awards like the SAGs, Golden Globes and Oscars but Lupita has bagged and continues to bag, many other awards.
We’ll be watching the Oscars on Sunday March 2nd to see if she bags the Oscar. If she does, she’ll be the 2nd African to do so, after Charlize Theron won for ‘Monster’ back in 2003. All the best Lupita!