Lupita Nyong'o
Lupita Nyong'o

Lupita Nyong'o

Born: March 1, 1983 (43 years)
Mexico City, Mexico

Lupita Amondi Nyong'o (born 1 March 1983) is a Kenyan-Mexican actress and author. She began her career in Hollywood as a production assistant. In 2008, she made her acting debut with the short film East River and subsequently returned to Kenya to star in the television series Shuga (2009–2012). In 2009, she wrote, produced and directed the documentary In My Genes. She then pursued a master's degree in acting from the Yale School of Drama. She had her first feature film role as Patsey in 12 Years a Slave (2013), for which she received critical acclaim and won several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She became the first Kenyan and Mexican actress to win an Academy Award. She made her Broadway debut as a teenage orphan in the play Eclipsed (2015), for which she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play. She went on to perform a motion capture role as Maz Kanata in the Star Wars sequel trilogy (2015–2019) and a lead voice role as Raksha in The Jungle Book (2016). Her career progressed with her role as Nakia in the Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero film Black Panther (2018) and her starring role in Jordan Peele's critically acclaimed horror film Us (2019). In addition to acting, she supports historic preservation. She is vocal about preventing sexual harassment and working for women's and animal rights. In 2014, she was named the most beautiful woman by People. She has also written a children's book named Sulwe (2019), which became a number-one New York Times Best-Seller. Also in 2019, she narrated the Discovery Channel docu-series Serengeti, which earned her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Narrator. She was named among Africa's "50 Most Powerful Women" by Forbes in 2020. Description above is from the Wikipedia article Lupita Nyong'o, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Movies Directed (1)
Movies as Actor (41)
The Odyssey

The Odyssey

as Helen / Clytemnestra

Jul 15, 2026

Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night

as Viola

Nov 14, 2025

The Wild Robot

The Wild Robot

as Roz / Rummage (voice)

Sep 12, 2024

A Quiet Place: Day One

A Quiet Place: Day One

as Samira

Jun 26, 2024

Disney 100: A Century of Dreams – A Special Edition of 20/20

Disney 100: A Century of Dreams – A Special Edition of 20/20

as Self

Dec 14, 2023

Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

as Self

Feb 7, 2023

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

as Nakia

Nov 9, 2022

20/20 Presents Black Panther: In Search of Wakanda

20/20 Presents Black Panther: In Search of Wakanda

as Self

Nov 4, 2022

The 355

The 355

as Khadijah Adiyeme

Jan 5, 2022

2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

as Self

Nov 20, 2021

Who Are You, Charlie Brown?

Who Are You, Charlie Brown?

as Self - Narrator (voice)

Jun 24, 2021

Chadwick Boseman: A Tribute for a King

Chadwick Boseman: A Tribute for a King

as Self (archive footage)

Aug 30, 2020

Black Is King

Black Is King

Jul 30, 2020

One World: Together at Home

One World: Together at Home

as Self

Apr 18, 2020

Worlds Beyond Earth

Worlds Beyond Earth

as Narrator (voice)

Jan 21, 2020

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

as Maz Kanata

Dec 18, 2019

Warrior Women with Lupita Nyong'o

Warrior Women with Lupita Nyong'o

as Host

Oct 23, 2019

Beyoncé Presents: Making The Gift

Beyoncé Presents: Making The Gift

as Self

Sep 6, 2019

Little Monsters

Little Monsters

as Miss Caroline

Aug 29, 2019

Us

Us

as Adelaide Wilson / Red

Mar 14, 2019

My Africa

My Africa

as Narrator (voice)

Apr 20, 2018

Jack (Part 1)

Jack (Part 1)

as Giant

Apr 19, 2018

Black Panther

Black Panther

as Nakia

Feb 13, 2018

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

as Maz Kanata

Dec 13, 2017

August 28: A Day in the Life of a People

August 28: A Day in the Life of a People

as Self

Aug 26, 2017

MaNyfaCedGod

MaNyfaCedGod

as Woman

Aug 17, 2017

Queen of Katwe

Queen of Katwe

as Nakku Harriet

Sep 23, 2016

Secrets of the Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey

Secrets of the Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey

as Self

Apr 16, 2016

The Jungle Book

The Jungle Book

as Raksha (voice)

Apr 7, 2016

Disneyland 60: The Wonderful World of Disney

Disneyland 60: The Wonderful World of Disney

as Self

Feb 21, 2016

Star Wars: Greatest Moments

Star Wars: Greatest Moments

as Self

Dec 26, 2015

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

as Maz Kanata

Dec 15, 2015

Non-Stop

Non-Stop

as Gwen

Feb 26, 2014

12 Years a Slave

12 Years a Slave

as Patsey

Oct 18, 2013

East River

East River

Jan 1, 2009

This Is My Africa

This Is My Africa

as Self

Apr 1, 2008

Strawweight

Strawweight

Miss Universe

Miss Universe

Lunik Heist

Lunik Heist

The Wild Robot Escapes

The Wild Robot Escapes

as Roz (voice)

Serengeti

Serengeti

TV Shows as Actor (36)
Voices Rising: The Music of Wakanda Forever

Voices Rising: The Music of Wakanda Forever

as Self - Actress

Feb 28, 2023

Sherri

Sherri

as Self - Guest

Sep 12, 2022

Human Resources

Human Resources

as Shame Wizard Asha (voice)

Mar 18, 2022

Super Sema

Super Sema

as Sema

Mar 8, 2021

Marvel Studios Legends

Marvel Studios Legends

as Nakia (archive footage) (uncredited)

Jan 8, 2021

Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices

Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices

Sep 1, 2020

The Kelly Clarkson Show

The Kelly Clarkson Show

as Self

Sep 9, 2019

Serengeti

Serengeti

as Narrator (voice)

Jul 4, 2019

Desus & Mero

Desus & Mero

as Self - Illustrious Guest

Feb 21, 2019

2 Dope Queens

2 Dope Queens

as Self

Feb 2, 2018

Big Mouth

Big Mouth

as Asha (voice)

Sep 29, 2017

Star Wars: Forces of Destiny

Star Wars: Forces of Destiny

as Maz Kanata (voice)

Jul 3, 2017

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

as Self - Guest

Sep 8, 2015

Nature Is Speaking

Nature Is Speaking

as Flower

Aug 12, 2015

Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter

Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter

as Self

Aug 2, 2015

Lip Sync Battle

Lip Sync Battle

as Self

Apr 2, 2015

Hot Ones

Hot Ones

as Self

Mar 12, 2015

Variety Studio: Actors on Actors

Variety Studio: Actors on Actors

as Self

Dec 21, 2014

Late Night with Seth Meyers

Late Night with Seth Meyers

as Self - Guest

Feb 25, 2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

as Self - Guest

Feb 17, 2014

Finding Your Roots

Finding Your Roots

as Self

Mar 24, 2012

Billy on the Street

Billy on the Street

as Self

Dec 18, 2011

Conan

Conan

as Self - Guest

Nov 8, 2010

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

as Self - Guest

Jul 16, 2009

Shuga

Shuga

as Ayira

Jan 1, 2009

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

as Self - Guest

Jan 26, 2003

The View

The View

as Self

Aug 11, 1997

The Daily Show

The Daily Show

as Self - Guest

Jul 22, 1996

Late Show with David Letterman

Late Show with David Letterman

as Self - Guest

Aug 30, 1993

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

as Self - Guest

Sep 5, 1988

Entertainment Tonight

Entertainment Tonight

as Self

Sep 15, 1981

Great Performances

Great Performances

as Viola

Jan 28, 1971

Sesame Street

Sesame Street

as Self

Nov 10, 1969

Tony Awards

Tony Awards

as Self - Presenter

Apr 1, 1956

The Oscars

The Oscars

as Self

Mar 19, 1953

Tagesschau

Tagesschau

as Self

Dec 26, 1952