Overview
- Speaking with Angélique Kidjo, Nyong’o said that in the months after her 2014 Academy Award she was sent scripts to play enslaved or suffering Black women, including roles set on slave ships.
- She recalled press think pieces questioning whether her career would stall, which she says reflected racism and colorism.
- Nyong’o said she turned down roles that reduce African women to pain, choosing to work less rather than perpetuate stereotypes.
- She described herself as a “joyful warrior” focused on broadening how Africa and Black women are portrayed on screen.
- Coverage noted that her comments have renewed discussion about representation in Hollywood, while her later credits include Black Panther, the Star Wars sequels, The Wild Robot and A Quiet Place: Day One.