Author

The set of '12 Years a Slave' was an extremely joyous one! We all recognized that we were making a powerful, necessary and beautiful film, and we weren't about doing it without that sense of responsibility, and we recognized that we needed each other to tell this story. We also knew we needed to hold each other up as we told the story.

From Lupita Nyong'o

Whoopi Goldberg looked like me, she had hair like mine, she was dark like me. I'd been starved for images of myself. I'd grown up watching a lot of American TV. There was very little Kenyan material, because we had an autocratic ruler who stifled our creative expression.

From Lupita Nyong'o

I was raised in Kenya, and I always wanted to be an actor from when I was really, really little, but the first time I thought it was something that I could make a career of was when I watched 'The Color Purple.' I think I was nine, maybe, and I saw people that looked like me - Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah.

From Lupita Nyong'o

There's always a sense of newness with acting, because every role, you come to every role fresh.

From Lupita Nyong'o

I have the opportunity to learn about the fashion world, and I appreciate it as an art form... But I never want it to take over my acting.

From Lupita Nyong'o

Being considered a fashion star is wonderful. It's definitely a bonus thing.

From Lupita Nyong'o

My conscious life has all been in Kenya, and it's my point of reference. But going back to Mexico was very formative.

From Lupita Nyong'o

I didn't know any successful actors in Kenya, so I felt like I could get away with going to college to study film more easily than I could with saying, 'I want to be an actor.' That's what I did.

From Lupita Nyong'o

I discovered that joy is not the negation of pain, but rather acknowledging the presence of pain and feeling happiness in spite of it.

From Lupita Nyong'o

I've loved the opportunity to learn about the fashion world and appreciate it as an art form, and I look forward to my continued education, but I never want it to take over my acting.

From Lupita Nyong'o

Lupita Nyong'o

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