In watching the below footage, I realized that I actually haven’t seen many interviews with Lupita Nyong’o solo – certainly not on late night TV, where the format/platform is much less formal; Typically, it’s a brief few seconds on the red carpet, or in a group with other actors, as was the case with The Hollywood Reporter’s actress round-table a couple of months ago.
So this was quite refreshing to watch.
She’s a lovely, sprightly presence, with a great personality, and I certainly hope that all the press and general excitement around her, since her much-ballyhooed performance in 12 Years A Slave, is eventually accompanied by project castings, on the big and/or small screen.
Actresses (although more like triple threats, as they both act, write and direct) like she and Danai Gurira represent many a black woman who would love to see themselves on screen, but rarely ever do.
Somewhere right now, there could be a filmmaker writing a screenplay for both Lupita and Danai to star in together… and for Bradford Young to shoot.
One can only dream…
As of today, the only other project she’s booked (that’s been made public anyway) is the Liam Neeson airplane actioner, Non-Stop, which actually opens in theaters next month. Although, based on what we know thus far, her role looks to be peripheral, as a flight attendant. But maybe it’ll expose her to an audience unfamiliar with her – although, given all the press attention, you’d think that, by now, most of the America would know who she is. But I’m sure there are still many who haven’t seen 12 Years A Slave, for whom a movie like Non-Stop is preferred.
The Academy Award nominations will be announced tomorrow morning, and I’d be shocked if her name isn’t called when the actresses nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category are announced – an Academy Award that she really should win, despite what the Hollywood Foreign Press thought in giving their Best Supporting Actress Award to Jennifer Lawrence – a fine, young actress too, by the way; but of the two performances each is nominated for this year, I’d give the nod the Lupita.
Without further ado, watch Ms Nyong’o on Jimmy Kimmel’s show last night in the 2 videos embedded below:
