Lupita Nyong’o, Five Films Starring the Oscar Winning Actress That You Will Love

Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o is known and loved for her talent in front of the cameras and the excellence she brings to the films she is a part of.

Born in Mexico and raised in Kenya, Nyong’o has an impressive filmmaking background. She earned her bachelor’s degree in film and African studies from Hampshire College, and she interned with several films. In 2012, Nyong’o earned her master’s degree in acting from Yale School of Drama.

A year after receiving her master’s, the actress appeared in her first film, 12 Years a Slave, where she won an Oscar for best supporting actress. Since then, Nyong’o has continued to exceed expectations and raise the standard, so here are some of our favorite films starring Nyong’o.

Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

In these Marvel hits, Nyong’o portrays the undercover spy, Nakia, also the former partner of the late Chadwick Boseman’s character, T’Challa. Nakia is extremely intelligent and is a master at fighting. During the first film, she spent most of her time outside Wakanda on missions to help her home nation and subjugate women.

The sequel film reveals that Nakia and T’Challa share a son named Toussaint, whom she had been raising secretly in Haiti. Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever exemplify Black excellence and celebrate African culture. They also portray the significance of leadership and loyalty while empowering and honoring Black people and Black culture.

Queen of Katwe

In this film, Nyong’o embodies the mother of 10-year-old Phiona Mutesi, who becomes captivated by chess. Her character, Harriet, discovers her daughter’s natural aptitude for the game and allows local soccer player Katende to become her mentor. Queen of Katwe is nothing short of inspiring and unforgettable. It teaches a significant lesson about having great aspirations, not being afraid of your big dreams, and having the faith to chase the outcomes you desire.

The 355

Nyongo stars a former MI6 operative and computer specialist, Khadijah Adiyeme, who works alongside other phenomenal women, including characters played by Jessica Chastain, Penélope Cruz, Fan Bingbing, and Diane Kruger.

A top-secret weapon falls into the wrong hands, and to prevent the occurrence of World War III, these women must risk their lives to save the world. This spy thriller is the perfect movie night film for anyone looking to see a group of powerful women take charge.

Little Monsters

This zombie comedy follows Nyong’o’s character, Miss Caroline, who fights to protect her kindergarten students from the zombie apocalypse. The movie takes place in Australia during a field trip to the farm. Chaperoning with Miss Caroline is the immature Dave, the uncle of one of her students.

Miss Caroline and Dave work together to convince her students that the recently turned zombies are part of a game to protect their innocence and save them from being turned. Little Monsters provides comedic relief and elements of cuteness and chaos to the kindergarteners.

Nyong’o showcases her incredible talents and ability to play diverse roles in all five films. We look forward to watching the films she has yet to participate in as she grows into a phenomenal actress.