Lupita Nyong'o Reveals The Advice She Got From Emma Thompson After Her 2014 Oscar Win

From the vast landscapes of Kenya to the star-studded world of Hollywood, Lupita Nyong’o’s journey in the film industry is nothing short of cinematic. She made her acting debut in Steve McQueen’s historical drama, 12 Years a Slave, in 2013, portraying Patsey, a young, resilient woman who is enslaved. Her heart-wrenching performance left audiences spellbound, even earning her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. An Oscar for her debut film was not only a personal victory for Lupita but also a celebratory moment for diverse representation in Hollywood.

While it has been a decade since Lupita Nyong’o’s Oscar-winning release, the Hollywood star recently opened up about the invaluable words of wisdom that she received from Emma Thompson. In a conversation with People at the Paramount Pictures x Hollywood Confidential Celebrating Lupita Nyong’o event, the actress also spoke at length about her insecurities that she had even after winning big for her role.

Mentioning that her “biggest fear” was how she would “top” her big win as Patsey, Lupita shared that she felt the “fear of failing” and found it very challenging to deal with.

“And here I was winning it with my very first role. And I was like, ‘Okay, where do I go from here?’ And then also there’s, I’d heard a lot about the Oscar curse for Best Supporting Actress. A lot of people who won that then went on to not have such great projects after that, and the fear of falling off the map,” she recalled further, adding that it was tough for her to deal with.

However, Thompson was at her rescue, as Nyong’o revealed the time when she caught up with the Bridget Jones star after her 2014 Oscar win. “I spoke to her about my fears of failing. And she was the one who encouraged me to go and do what I wanted to do, which was a play on Broadway,” she shared. The Black Panther star recalled how Thompson advised her to lead a life on her own terms and not follow others’ recommendations.

“And if that is what you feel will strengthen your craft and remind you of what you’re good at, do that because you have the rest of your life to lead, and you can’t do it according to other people’s expectations,” she added.

Trusting her “inner navigator,” the actress then actually did the play, Eclipsed, in 2016 and even got a nomination at the Tony Awards later that year.