She is one of the iconic actresses who have lit up television screens with electric acting skills. Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o is one of the most sought-after actresses. She flickers hope for young African women hoping to build successful careers in acting and has been a force to reckon with over the years. Here is a list of some of the fun facts about Lupita Nyong’o:
Fun facts about Lupita Nyong’o
Multi-cultural heritage
Hollywood actress Lupita Nyong’o and her mother Dorothy Nyong’o/Courtesy
The Oscar-award-winning multicultural actress boasts of a rich multicultural heritage. She has roots in Mexico and Kenya but has also demonstrated various cultures in her on-screen acting roles. She was born in Mexico to Kenyan parents. Her name is traditionally Mexican while her surname is an African name. Lupita’s father Anyang’ Nyong’o is a veteran Kenyan politician who is currently serving his second term as the Governor of Kisumu County. Although a Kenyan, Lupita spent her formative years in Mexico where her parents had sought political refuge. The Luo Community in Kenya where Lupita comes from is also the community where former US president Barack Obama hails from.
Produced an award-winning documentary while in college
The spirit of acting runs deep in Lupita Nyong’o’s veins and she is using it for a just course. While in college, Lupita produced an-award winning documentary titled ‘In my Genes”. The documentary highlighted the rare medical condition of albinism. The film won the 2008 Five College Film Festival and is one of the many awards the prolific actress has bagged in her career. The film highlighted the untold stories of albinos and how they are are a group that unifies people across the globe.
Lupita is multi-lingual
Hollywood actress Lupita Nyong’o/Courtesy
Boasting a multicultural heritage, Lupita is fluent in several languages. She speaks Luo and Kiswahili languages fluently. The two languages are common in Africa and Kenya in particular. She speaks the two languages fluently and visits her home country Kenya, several times. The Mexican-Kenyan actress is also fluent in English and Spanish languages. According to the New York Times, Lupita’s background inspires some of the roles she plays in films.
She became the first Kenyan to win an Oscar for her first big-screen role
Lupita Nyong’o/Courtesy
The golden Hollywood star made international headlines in 2014 when she was feted for her role in the film “12 Years a Slave”. The award made her the first Kenyan and Mexican to win an Oscar award. The award came as a result of her as Patsey in the film 12 Years a Slave directed by Steve McQueen. She got an early birthday gift after winning the award two days two her birthday. According to Yale University, the actress identifies as Kenyan-Mexican.
Lupita wrote a book titled “Sulwe”
With her passion for inspiring young people, Lupita Nyong’o wrote a children’s book titled “Sulwe”. The title of the book is a Luo word which translates to Star in English. The book is a children’s book that demonstrates how children should cope with colorism. Through the book, Lupita Nyong’o demonstrates the pride of Africans. According to the New York Times, the book was among the top-selling children’s books in 2019. The book also seeks to improve racial equity.
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