Lupita Nyong'o

Lupita Amondi Nyong'o, born on March 1, 1983, in Mexico City, is a celebrated actress known for her remarkable contributions to film, stage, and television. The daughter of Kenyan politician Anyang' Nyong'o, she spent her early years in Kenya after moving there at the age of three. Her academic journey led her to Hampshire College in the United States, where she earned a bachelor's degree in film and theatre studies. Nyong'o began her career in Hollywood as a production assistant before making her acting debut in the short film East River in 2008.

Nyong'o's rise to fame was marked by her role as Patsey in Steve McQueen's critically acclaimed biopic 12 Years a Slave (2013), which earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Following this success, she made her Broadway debut in the play Eclipsed (2015), receiving a Tony Award nomination for her performance. Her versatility as an actress is evident in her roles in the Star Wars sequel trilogy as Maz Kanata and as Raksha in The Jungle Book (2016).

In addition to her work in film, Nyong'o has made significant contributions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, portraying Nakia in Black Panther (2018) and its sequel (2022). She has also starred in notable horror films such as Us (2019) and A Quiet Place: Day One (2024), along with lending her voice to the animated film The Wild Robot (2024). Beyond her acting career, Nyong'o is an advocate for historic preservation and is vocal about issues such as sexual harassment and women's rights.

In 2014, she was recognized as the most beautiful woman by People magazine, and in 2019, she authored the children's book Sulwe, which became a New York Times Best-Seller. Nyong'o's talents extend to narration, as evidenced by her Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Narrator for her work on the docu-series Serengeti. In 2020, she was honored as one of Africa's 50 Most Powerful Women by Forbes, solidifying her status as a prominent figure in both the entertainment industry and social advocacy.