Lupita Nyong'o

Lupita Nyong'o is an Academy Award-winning actress known for her work in film, television, and theater. After earning a bachelor's degree in film and theatre studies from Hampshire College and a master's degree in acting from the Yale School of Drama, Nyong'o made her feature film debut in Steve McQueen's historical drama "12 Years a Slave," portraying Patsey, a young enslaved woman on a Louisiana plantation. This performance earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, making her the first Kenyan actress and the first Mexican-born actress to win an Oscar. The film also received the Best Picture Award.

Nyong'o has appeared in major film franchises and diverse projects, including the Star Wars universe as Maz Kanata in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" and its sequels, voicing Raksha in Disney's live-action adaptation of "The Jungle Book," and co-starring in Mira Nair's biopic "Queen of Katwe." She plays Nakia in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films "Black Panther" and "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever." Her lead role in Jordan Peele's horror film "Us" earned her an NAACP Image Award for Best Actress.

On stage, Nyong'o received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Play for her Broadway debut in Danai Gurira's "Eclipsed," a drama set during the Liberian civil war. She narrated the Discovery Channel documentary series "Serengeti," earning a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Narrator. Nyong'o has also starred in the horror prequel "A Quiet Place: Day One" and voiced the lead in the animated film "The Wild Robot." In 2026, she was featured in Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey."

In addition to her acting career, Nyong'o is an author and advocate. She wrote the children's picture book "Sulwe," which became a number-one New York Times bestseller and won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work. The book was also recognized with a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award. Nyong'o has spoken publicly about combating sexual harassment, including writing an op-ed for The New York Times. She has been recognized among Forbes' 50 Most Powerful Women in Africa and has been honored by People magazine and Glamour. Nyong'o is known for her contributions to film, theater, literature, and advocacy, and continues to influence audiences worldwide.